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'96 Dodge Ram 1500 belt shreds

Tiny
MORONGO
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 DODGE RAM
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 180 MILES
'96 Dodge Ram 1500 5.9L 2wd
Outside-edge (engine-side) of new serpentine belt shreds.

Previously, Gen-light came on and ammeter showed low charge, installed replacement alt, and new belt. New belt shredded in 2 days.

Old belt showed signs of wear at same edge before alt replacement.

Pulley on new (rebuilt) alt looks narrower than my other pulleys.
Now that outside-groove is gone, I notice belt fits in alt-pulley but other pulleys have room for the additional groove that I cut off because it was slapping around in the engine compartment.

I figured drag from bad bearings in old alternator caused the wear in the old belt, but the new one ate it in 2 days, there was belt-rubber on the adjacent idler, I had cleaned off the idler before I installed the new belt, could the idler be hanging up?
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 1:01 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,741 POSTS
You have the wrong alternator. If you still have the old one, there's a real good chance it needs a simple repair.
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 1:24 AM
Tiny
MORONGO
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  • 3 POSTS
Yeah, I think that may be the case.

I put a straightedge on the tensioner pulley-face and the alternator pulley was a good 1/8" to 3/16" back from the straightedge.

I ran a straightedge from the compressor to the power steering pump pulley-face and they lined-up.

All my pulleys are the same width except for the new alternator.

You can visibly see the belt running back at an angle to the alternator.

I don't think AutoZone gave me the right alternator (but it did bolt-up and the connections were the same).

I can't compare the new one to my old one because I already turned it in for the core.

Anyway, have a look at the pic to get an idea of what's up - notice the 'shredded' belt fits perfectly in the new alternator's pulley. But the others all have a spline missing.
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 2:52 AM
Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,741 POSTS
I would ask if they still have your old alternator, if for nothing else than to switch the pulleys. If you can get it back, use an ohm meter to measure the resistance between the two smaller terminals. Most commonly it will be open. If it is the little silver Nippendenso alternator, the brush assembly is what wears out and can be replaced if you can find the part.
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 3:18 AM
Tiny
MORONGO
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Thanks, caraudiodoc.

I'll check with them tomorrow to see if they've sent the core in yet, however, the original problem was bearings that would seize intermittently, dropping the output and wearing on the belt.

But yes, it's a 90A ND unit.
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Wednesday, March 30th, 2011 AT 3:46 AM

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