I replaced the alternator and now the original belt is too short

SHANEFWB

MEMBER
2002 SATURN VUE
3.0L
6 CYL
4WD
AUTOMATIC
220,000 MILES

I just changed the alternator and the belt that was on there is too short by like 1/4 of an inch now. Compared old and new alternators and unless I'm blind they are the same. To my knowledge there is no adjustment besides the tensioner pulley. I tried all I know and I'm a pretty good mechanic help!

Solutions please!
I'm going nuts!

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

I assume you didn't take the belt completely off all the pulleys just the alternator. So, if this is what you did then the most common cause would be the belt is not on one of the pulleys correctly. So, it is sitting up on the lip of one of the pulleys which takes some slack away from the belt.

Next, we are going to need a picture of the alternator and belt area to see if we can see anything that is wrong with the alignment or installation.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-serpentine-belt

I am attaching the info from the manual. I don't think this is going to show anything other than the belt alignment that we need to make sure it is correct.

Please run through this and see if you can get some pictures and we can go from there.

Thanks

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