Mitsubishi Repair: Belts., crank pulley, alternator pulley

Question
Hi Anthony.
Anthony I recently changed my alternator belt because it snapped on me. I have changed this belt about 3 times already. My questions is I know the tension is correct its not loose or too tight. Once again its squeaking, Now I bought this car used 1997 Mit ECLIPSE 97 GST. My father stated the reason why its constantly snapping off is probably because some work was done to the car and probably some washers were misplaced and thats what is causing the problem. This sounds like a costly job. Do you think this is what is causing me this headache? What is the best approach to fix this ? thanks Anothony appreciate your time ! Rick!  

Answer
Rick,
I have seen this problem happen for a couple of reasons.  It's possible one of the pulleys your alternator belt wraps around is damaged and is cutting into the belt.  I believe there are 3 pulleys your alternator belt wraps around; the crank pulley, water pump pulley, and the alternator pulley.  Inspect those pulleys for damage.

I have also seen many snapped belts reoccurring when one or more engine mounts are worn or broken.  The turbo engine has a lot of torque, and engine wants to shift around when you accelerate and brake hard.  If an engine mount is worn, the engine will wobble beyond its tolerance, and can cause the belt to wear quickly and snap.  It is possible a mechanic that previously worked on the car lost some components and is causing the failure, but check those items I mentioned.  Hopefully you'll be able to pinpoint the problem.
Good luck!