How to adjust alternator belt on 96 Neon......

My son has a 96 Neon and the alternator belt squeals everytime you start it up. I can't even see the alternator no less find out how to adjust the belt. Can anyone help me out?

 

If I remember correctly you can't adjust the belt. You would have to buy and install a new tensioner.

 

Or Belt. If it is worn out. Check that also.

 

It's just time for a new belt. Tensioner only needs to be replaced if bad.

FYI

The tensioner pivot bolt should never be tightened, loosened or removed. The bolt is installed at the manufacturer with a loctite adhesive that is not reusable. If the tensioner pivot bolt is disturbed, the entire pivot bracket assembly (P/N 4777346) must be replaced.

 

Looking from passenger side fender, take a flashlight & look down behind the engine, to your left. That's where you'll see the alternator. To tighten or replace belt, Jack the car up & remove passenger side wheel. Remove the 3 or 4 bolts that hold the splash sheild on that covers the crankshaft pulley, and remove the sheild. Now you should be able to see the alternator.There is a pivot bolt at bottom, and adjustment at top. Loosen the top one only, and carefully pry alternator back, if you don't have an adjustment bolt, behind the alternator.( It goes through a spill sheild covering the back of the alternator, up near the top of the sheild. Turn it clockwise to add tension.) Then retighten top nut/bolt. Mine is a 95' so I suspect yours is the same. If not enough help, maybe I could send you a picture from my manual (chilton's)

 

1996 has a belt tensioner.

 

Thought we,(Grantiman) might get lucky, but thanks for setting that straight , "mlass", and saving the poor guy all that work, and gaining me an enemy !!

Mike.B

 

My son said the car needed a new alternator about two years ago and his friend put it on for him, he also put a new belt on at that time. After he replaced the belt it was squealing really bad then it went away. The squeal came back about 4 months ago. The car squeals really bad when you first start it up, maybe 30 to 40 seconds, then it will stop. It will squeal every so often while your driving it too. Should I just try to put that spray on it that helps stop a fan belt squeal, or should I just try replacing the belt again?

 

What kind of deflection do you get in the belt when you push on it between a couple of the farthest apart pulleys? Or, if you grasp it and tug it up and down, does it plum feel loose?

If it is absolutely sloppy then you'd have some tensioner issue for sure. If the belt seems reasonably tight and yet squeels, then the belt probably got irreversibly polished and needs a new belt. Then make sure tension is good on new belt as to not start this problem all over again.

 

Do not Spray . Spray is a temporay fix. It eats the belt and softens it. GM doesn't allow it as a repair. Make sure the belt was installed correctly. I have replaced alot of belts on new cars the first year of its life.

Belt Dressing Notice
Notice: Do not use belt dressing on the drive belt. Belt dressing causes the breakdown of the composition of the drive belt. Failure to follow this recommendation will damage the drive belt.

 

Thanks guys, I'll try pulling tire and sheild off to check the belt and see if anything is wrong. I'll keep you posted on how I make out. I'll check both, alternator and power steering belt.

 

Somewhere I may have gone wrong (happens when browse the internet, while working on cars), but here is info.

EDIT: I see what I did, I was looking at a TSB related to 2.0l engines with Belt Tensioner. I don't why Chrysler would have listed the TSB with a 96 Neon. Sorry, if I may have confused someone. I just knew something was wrong when he mentioned two belts.

ACCESSORY DRIVE BELTS REMOVE / INSTALL
AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP
Loosen the power steering pump locking bolts A and B and pivot bolt C Power Steering Pump Adjustment to remove and install belt and/or adjust belt tension.
Using a 1/2" breaker bar, adjust belt tension by applying torque to the square D hole on the power steering pivot bracket. Adjust tension to specification given in Belt Tension Chart.
Tighten in order, first tighten locking bolt A to 27 N·m (20 ft. lbs.) then, bolt B to 27 N·m (20 ft. lbs.) Then pivot bolt C to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)
Accessory Drive Belt Gauge Torque
Power Steering Pump and Air Conditioning Compressor New 135 lb. 121 N·m (90 ft. lbs.)
Used 100 lb. 81 N·m (60 ft. lbs.) -
Generator New 135 lb. 121 N·m (90 ft. lbs.)
Used 100 lb. 81 N·m (60 ft. lbs.)

GENERATOR BELT
Loosen pivot bolt E then T-Bolt locking nut F and adjusting bolt G Generator Adjustment to remove and install belt and/or adjust belt tension.
Tighten adjusting bolt G, adjust belt tension to specification shown in Belt Tension Chart.
Tighten pivot bolt E to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.) T-Bolt locking nut F to 61 N·m (45 ft. lbs.)

 

Not only does he have more work now, but he is also confused and no longer knows who to trust. I saw Belt Tensioner on Chrysler's SI TSB page and assumed.

 

Hopefully I will know today if it has a tensioner on it or not. I will let you know as soon as I find out. Thanks......