Belt drive noises are little squeaks and squeals when you press on the gas pedal; usually when the engine is cold. The noises are a result of the drive belt slipping on the accessory pulleys on the engine. As a drive belt ages it stretches and eventually, it becomes loose on the pulleys. Inspect the drive belt for cracks in the V-groove or for dry rot before attempting to eliminate the noises. If you locate any dry rot or cracking, replace the belt with a new one and forgo the process of tightening the belt to eliminate the noise.
Loosen the bolts that secure the alternator's casing to the alternator's bracket assembly with a socket and ratchet. The bolt on the top of the alternator's casing is a mounting bolt but the bolt on the bottom of the alternator's casing is a pivot bolt.
Place a pry bar between the alternator's casing and the bracket assembly.
Push down on the pry bar to push the alternator upward to tighten the drive belt.
Tighten the two bolts on the alternator with a socket and ratchet while you push down on the pry bar.
Locate the tensioner between the water pump, power steering pump and the crankshaft. The pulley bolts to a bracket on the engine block.
Loosen the bolt in the center of the pulley with a socket and ratchet.
Place the pry bar under the tensioner pulley and on top of a pulley to its left or right. Usually, this is the crankshaft pulley.
Push down on the pry bar to push the tensioner pulley up and tighten the bolt in the center of the tensioner pulley.
