My '85 2.8L goes through an alternator/water pump belt in 17 miles - it has done this 4 times despite my repair attempts.

A few months ago my Fiero's alternator began over-charging and I removed it to find that the aluminum mounting bracket had broken at it's smallest section. I had the bracked welded and installed a new alternator and belt. I had no problem for over 3K miles then all of a sudden the belt began squeaking when I started the car after letting is sit for a few days and was ripped to shreds within a mile at 2000RPM. The belt was caught by the engine frame, so I could see that it was over heated - severed (to one long piece) and a bit crispy.
I replaced the belt, noting that the water pump and alternator turned freely; but the same thing happened again, this time after just 15 or so miles....

I've since replaced this new alternator since it wasn't charging properly even with a new belt (it had been this way since I installed it - it's output voltage was only 13.25 most of the time). Searching for the cause of this fast belt burning action, I noticed that the alternator and it's pully were angled a bit in the bracket - the inside edge of the pulley was pointing toward the center of the engine a little bit, which causes the belt pressure to be mostly on one edge, which could explain the belt's overheating and fast destruction.

I've aligned the alternator properly now and still the same thing happened to a brand new belt - I've used different belt brands by the way. No pulleys are siezed. Also, the alternator pulley gets hot within a minute of running time - could there be an electrical problem external to the alternator causing the alternator to over heat?

I think that I would buy a new alternator bracket since the problem started soon after that repair was done.
You also stated that you did notice the misalignment of the pulleys and strighted it out to line up properly.
The point is that the smallest section is weak and flexing and will break again, it's just a matter of time. You should be able to locate one easily enough.

cant be too many thing. First get the pulleys all running true. Then get a competent electrical shop to check out the alternator in the car under load. It could be you have other electrical problems that put so much load on it, that its binding up. (ie radio high power amp, too small amp alternator, bad battery)

One thing to check for is that the pulleys are all running in the same plane. By that I mean.

Good pulleys:

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Bad pulleys:

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(the period is only to force the alignment.)

[This message has been edited by Steve Normington (edited 12-01-2002).]

Pull the belt and make sure the alternator pulley has the correct matching number of grooves as the waterpump and crank pullys.

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1988GT T-Tops, 5spd, Loaded

[This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 12-01-2002).]

Make sure you have the right pully!! Advanced Auto sold me one with te wrong pully and it burnt through 4 belts in a month.

If it's not that check and make sure your bracket is lined up right.

Or

Make sure your belt isn't lose.

It's not unusual for the pulleys to get hot very quickly, but it's not from the belt.

The best belts in my opinion are Gates and NAPA (made by gates) These will outlast Dayco 2 to 1 at least. Make sure you don't OVERTIGHTEN the belt trying to keep it from slipping. You can destroy a belt by breaking the cords inside by tightening it too much so that it's bad when you put it on.

Also, very important as stated above, be sure they are in alignment with each other. Good luck!

Phil

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GTDude
OVER 25 years GM experience

Yes, the alternator pulley wasn't just angled out of the plane of the crank and water-pump pulleys, but is not even coincident with it - it looks to be a half inch further (horizontally) from the engine than the other two... I'll see what I can do...

Is there a spacer behind the pulley/cooling fin plate on the shaft? If there is, it's too big! Best to check since your out that far of alignment.

Ditto what GT Dude said about the belts...buy Goodyear/NAPA. You probably have already watched the engine while idling, but check the bolts to make sure they are in good condition. We had to replace the alt upper bolt because it was wallered enough to allow the alt to vibrate and wear the belt.

Chances are your bracket is the key to your problems....Its hard to "see" a good pulley alignment.

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Dillon
Black '87 SE V6
Metallic Green '87 GT (pics coming soon)

"And this one time, on the Fiero Forum..."

Yes, I've corrected the misalignment so that all pulley's are pretty damn close to aligned, yet the trouble remains. The welded section that broke on the bracket is slightly angled toward the center of the engine, so I'll just replace it.
I'll not find one locally; any references to a used one?

quote Originally posted by Sean: Yes, I've corrected the misalignment so that all pulley's are pretty damn close to aligned, yet the trouble remains. The welded section that broke on the bracket is slightly angled toward the center of the engine, so I'll just replace it. I'll not find one locally; any references to a used one?

Might try posting this question in the mall. Try skitime.

Call Ed Parks at The Fiero Factory (256) 420-5391. I imagine he can get you one.

My guess is that you still have alignment problems with the pulleys.

A few years ago my alternator bracket broke in the same place as yours. A local Pontiac dealer was able to get me a new one but said they were discontinued. I got spares of all the brackets at swap meets through the years.

i have one on my parts engine. Email me.

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Silver 85 GT modified 5 speed
Black 87 GT Getrag 5 speed 7 speaker sound
Black 85 coupe parts car (need any parts?)
SOLD! Blue 87 coupe

RIP 86 white coupe 49k miles (Unrecalled) Burned to the ground :-(

AIM: (please IM ME LETS TALK. I love to BS about Fieros) IAMKURTDCOBAIN (old sn cant lose it)

EMAIL : Anaverin@juno.com