alternator belt tension

[Dirtbag]

At warm engine idle (low idle) my alternator stops working, but it works again once i increase the revs past about 1100 or so, does this mean the tension is to tight or to lose?

[Punter]

Could be a very loose belt. Does it make any noise.

What's your battery like.

[Dirtbag]

yea i just replaced the belt, and i may have not tightened up the tensioner as much as i needed to. Battery is good, replaced it about 3 months ago.

edit: and it screeches sometimes as my revs go below the level, and as they rise above the level of alternator not turning

[l1ttle_d3vil]

sounds like it would be too loose if its squeeling...

[repowered]

At warm engine idle (low idle) my alternator stops working, but it works again once i increase the revs past about 1100 or so, does this mean the tension is to tight or to lose?

might need to get a bar of somekind and use to lever the alternator to put tension on the belt, sometimes a 2 man job - someone to toghten the bolts while the tensions being held on..

[Dirtbag]

well, just before had a spectacular display from the tension pulley with it launching down onto the road and out the back of the car, whilst bouncing between car and road as it went.

now gotta get a new one before tomorrow night as i go away on Thursday
shit

[peas]

As a general rule of thumb there should be appox 10mm deflection when you press the belt in the middle of its longest run between pulleys or it should twist to 45 deg. Most new belts need retensioning after a month or two anyway as they tend to stretch a small amount.