Ford Repair: Alternator/Water Pump Belt Breaking, alternator pulley, first hope

Question
Steve,

I have a 1994 Probe SE 2.0 4 cyl and the alternator/water pump belt keeps breaking. I've replace the alternator pulley (it had a ding in it) thinking that was the problem. The water pump does not appear to be bad nor does the pulley. Once a belt is on it appears to be running true but after after 60-90 miles the belt breaks again. There is no squealing from the belt. I need help.

Answer
Tim-

  Frequent breakage like that is usually a sign that at least one pulley is misaligned (farther forward or backward than the others).  This is usually pretty hard to detect since it could be as little as a centimeter that's throwing it off.  I'd suggest popping the hood and starting the car and just watching the belt turn on all the pulleys.  Watch to see if it's sort of moving around on any of them (it's hard to explain...it looks like the belt is walking back and forth a bit).  The problem can be fixed by shimming the problem pulley, but you'll need to figure out which one is off first.  Hope this helps.

Steve