Doesn't really matter. Replace it when the tensioner is replaced.

By the way..it'* a great time to swap the positive battery cable going tot eh alternator ...since it'll be off.

40K on a belt time to get a new one of those too

Justin...you gonna back me on that battery cable and how easy it is when the tensioner is off....wink wink.

Trust me, battery cables are also on the list. Really. Seriously. Just waiting on back pay as usual. New job (and steady pay) doesn't start until after Christmas.

Oh yeah the ease is is 10 fold.

Come down by me there are plenty of battery cables for a bonneville at my favorite yard.

Well, the squeaking got worse, so I bit the bullet and replaced the belt tensioner. I forgot how much I hate winter. And I discovered just how much force it takes to fight a brand-new tensioner…*I'll sleep good tonight.

That seemed to fix the problem. However, *after* my test drive (it was dead silent during the drive), the squealing suddenly came back, and even louder than before! Plus, on this tensioner, the belt tends to want to ride the outside of the idler pulley, and that makes me uncomfortable. (Yes, I reused my old belt. I've got a Gates already in transit.)

No more leaks, though.

Figures I've got a long drive to Danbury tomorrow for my new job. I really hope nothing fails catastrophically.

need a new belt

Is that all? That'* a relief.

Not sure if you saw my other thread about belt brands, but I snagged a Gates belt last night for only $14 plus shipping. Better late than never, and certainly a better deal than the $37 Daycos at Advance.

i was on that thread ha. take a picture of where it'* riding on the pulley. just so it'* not going to fly off.

You know, It'* fourteen degrees outside, sixty-eight degrees in here, and I JUST took off my shoes. So, I'm going to try to draw you a mental picture and reeeeeally hope I don't have to get out of my chair again.

It'* riding on the outside edge of the pulley. There'* about one rib of space on the outer edge of the pulley, and about two, maybe 2.5, ribs of space on the inner edge. Even if I put the belt on the inside edge of both the idler and water pump pulleys, it always ends up in its new favorite spot on the outer edge.

The Dayco logo, belt information, and barcode printed on the flat side of the belt is worn, but doesn't look stretched at all. No visible cords, and no missing chunks of rib. It'* in pretty good condition for being past retirement age.

Can I stay inside?