WTF-Belt Stretched after 2 weeks?????

[4Jenna]

My belt started squealing with my A/C on afew weeks ago (89') i checked out the tensioner and yup outta the range marks. The smog pump is off the car, so I got a new Gatorback belt, and the size was like 88.5" I think..what they say to run with no smog pump.
Well that put the range mark dead in the middle of the tensioner..i was like cool.
2 weeks goes by, car is squealing like a mofo on start-up, and will squeal anytime it's idleing with the A/C on.
WTF, I wasted my money on this new belt? The range mark is off now, the belt has stretched.

Any ideas?

 

[Daggar]

Yep... don't even bother getting a belt that puts your range markings right in the sweet spot. Get the shortest belt you can fit over your pulley and let it stretch. When I put the belt on my car after my SC install I had to move the idler arm pulley on the SC bracket in one hole. After running it for a week, I set it back out one hole so the tensioner would be where it's supposed to be. The good news is that after that initial stretch it shouldn't move too much until the belt is wore out.

Edit: BTW, I also prestretched my spare belt just incase I ever had to change one roadside. A new belt won't fit over my pullies without moving the SC idler pulley.

 

[Scott W]

I had the same problem. I have no a/c, and no smog pump, and even a 69" belt stretched and bottomed out my tensioner within a couple weeks.

You have to go with a belt .5" shorter. Its a tight fit. I could only get it on one way, first use a piece of wood to hold the tensioner all the way up. get a buddy to hold it, or if the piece of wood is long and strong enough, you can force it all the way up and catch in on the lip of your hood (near the latch). then remove the alternator pulley and slip the belt on (making sure its properly routed), and put the alt pulley back on (again its tight but not impossible). Finally route the belt under the tensioner (if you use a ratchet to hold the tensioner up it gets in the way.

try and take the belt back and see if they give you any problem.