If you are at the end of the bracket, you have a cheap stretchy belt or
the sides are worn. FWIW the belt from the dealer is not the same as most
general replacements. This and the AC belt is a custom with different cord
material. At least they used to be!

Go to Mcmaster.com, page 1010 and get a belt tension gauge. They have some
reasonable price options.

Also, if you have the later alternator mount with the tooted adjustment
screw, you tighten the adjuster to 6 ft/lbs.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Geza Polony
Sent: Sunday, November 11, 2007 7:06 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Water pump premature failure

Per Dennis's instructions, I tightened the h*** out of the alternator, so
that I could turn the alternator nut and make the engine go round. The
alternator is now at the very end of the bracket, no more room at all for
further tightening. And guess what? No more squeal.

So thanks Dennis (once again.) But I have to say, I am not comfortable
with
the belt being that tight--it's tighter than I've ever run one, much
tighter
than the other two, and I'm thinking that bearing isn't going to last. But
we shall see.

As far as the drive pulley goes, it's definitely wobbling, and I never
touched it. I noticed this a long time ago and just didn't think anything
of
it. It's been on there the whole time I've had the car, about 25,000
miles.