got a 2000 dakota. put in new water pump n after tht i got squeeling n i notice my volt gauge droppin so i put in new alt. well its still doing it. heres how it goes....sterts fine batt at 12v running at 14+v. if im drivin i cn run lights heat etc wen i get on the brakes my voltage gauge starts dropping n somthin squealin. ive checked connections new batt terminals gettin new belt but cant find rite size cuz someone bypassed ac pump and the oe belts dont fit. 88" too short 97" too long. some advice or ideas r very welcome cuz im lost rt now. thnx.

 

Belt will have length written on it. For Gates it's usually a 4 digit number. The middle 2 numbers are the length in inches.

Your belt is slipping on the alternator, thus low charging. Tensioner could also be weak.

 

Welcome to the forum Fraz.

What engine do you have?

 

got a 5.9

 

i have a 5.9 in it

 

The parts catalog shows it should be Dodge p/n: 53010304

That corresponds to a Gates 7PK2238, which is about 88.75" long. Are you sure that you're routing it correctly?

 

pretty sure i first did it in the dark by droplite but ive tried anothr belt tht was too long. im followin the stikr on truch belt on thr is 90. jus got a 88.5 gonnna try it in a few. im not sure if its belt anyway. its odd tht it all strtd after i changed waterpump

 

just tried. 88.5" belt will not go on. and 97" is way too long as listed for w ac. the belt thts on is 90" i should b able to get a 88.5" belt on there.

 

ok so i did all i could and a 88 inch belt will not go on i remeasured mine n its more like 91". so ill b goin back for a 4th belt tomaro. biut im not sure if its the belt cuz of all i read. ive read fan clutch, regulator in pcm....ugh. someone even said pcv valve ok. idk wat vacume has to do w charging but idk everything. i start it itll squeel a lil n go up to 14v. i turn on fan its ok i turn on l;ights it starts squeelin n drops or if i put on brakes itll do it too. i turn smthin off itll level out n cm back up. i just dont know!

 

does the water pump spin freely? what about all of the other pulleys?