I have a problem that I'm hoping someone here can help out with.
My '95 GSX had a squeaking belt problem as soon as the weather started turning cold here in SW Pennsylvania. I decided that since I didn't know much about this vehicle's past maintenance history, I'd just put new belts on it. I heard lots of warnings about overtensioning the belts, so I put them on a bit sloppy. After some squealing started, I tightened the power steering and alternator belts (was squealing when I'd turn the wheel, and when there was a heavy load on the electrical system).
A week or so later, the squeal came back under electrical load. I checked the alternator belt, and it seemed loose again. I tightened it up some. Next week, same thing. Week after, same thing. I figured this was excessive for belt stretch.
A couple days ago, a loose rattle started coming from the engine compartment. I didn't know what this was, but I knew the squeal problem had gotten worse too. On a cold start, I'd have to keep lights and fan off, and on any return to idle, I'd have to turn the lights and fan back off to get the belt to catch again, and even that sometimes took a little while. While the belt squeal is happening, it is definately not charging at all.
I figured the alternator was probably going bad because the squealing stopped when the load was removed from it. However, I pulled the belt back off and spun the alternator - it spun freely, seemingly no resistance, no shaft freeplay. I then noticed where all of the belt residue was collecting - the motor mount. I spun the water pump, and it made a bit of a grinding sound, though it spun relatively freely with seemingly no shaft freeplay.
I have plans to pull the water pump this weekend (car has 122k on it, time for a new timing belt anyway). My concern is with the alternator. I can physically see the water pump pulley slowing down and running irregularly and can feel the grainding, but I couldn't tell with the alternator. Is the alternator also giong bad? Could the excess load from the water pump cause the belt not to drive the alternator enough to charge?
TIA,
JS