I have a 2004 Neon SXT andhave beengetting a squealing from the belts all winter this year, its the rainy season here in Washington. I had just replaced the belt last Feb/March and have had no problems with it, expcept for a few times when it rained it would squeal. I usually pumped my gas and the squealing would usually last for a sec or 2 more and then disapate. However, two days ago I did the exact same thing and I heard a snapping of a rubberband sound and it turned out that the alternator belt busted. I replaced it, thinking that the belt was from a bad batch of belts from NAPA. I test drove it 1(one) mile, and smelled burning rubber. I popped the hood and the alternator belt that I hadjust replaced had snapped. NOONE has a clue and I don't have a $1000 to give to a mechanic to find out that it was just a bad belt. The belt is a bugger to put in, being that I have to go behind the Serpentine belt and it has the room for a Gnome to work. Any ideas out there of someone whom this might have happened to also? HELP!

 

The tensioner might be be over tightening the belt...

 

any way that I can make sure this doesn't happen? We did make sure as not to tighten it to much so if it squealed we could easily go in and tighten it.

 

on the alternator you will see (2) bolts: pivot bolt and lock nut, adjust the bolt counter clockwise and that will loosen the belt......