# Alternator question? **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [August 16, 2011, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995 "2011-08-16T08:02:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:02am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/1 "2011-08-16T08:02:22Z")
My sister’s cavalier just had the serpentine belt slip off and she couldn’t steer… So we got it towed to the shop and they said it slipped off due to the alternator’s pulley being messed up, nothing wrong with the bettor the alternator other than than the pulley. My question is if she can just get the pulley fixed or does she need a whole new alternator? Oh and did I mention she can’t afford much :lol ---
**Author:** ![Vovchandr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vovchandr/32/6275_2.png) [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/2 "2011-08-16T08:05:43Z")
Does the pulley spin straight? Was the alternator ever replaced? Alternator pulleys usually don’t come stand alone at part stores but you could find one online or at dealership. Possibly locally at places that rebuild them like excel or the like but it’s a long shot. ---
**Author:** ![88slowmarro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/88slowmarro/32/6339_2.png) [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:09am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/3 "2011-08-16T08:09:49Z")
If the belt is fine doubtfull the pulley is screwed , if the belt shredded or suttin yeah but . ---
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/4 "2011-08-16T08:13:11Z")
> [@New summertime meet spot in Tonawanda.UPDATE 4/06!!!!!](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/new-summertime-meet-spot-in-tonawanda-update-4-06/44524/27): > > Does the pulley spin straight? > > Was the alternator ever replaced? > > Alternator pulleys usually don’t come stand alone at part stores but you could find one online or at dealership. Possibly locally at places that rebuild them like excel or the like but it’s a long shot. i’m guessing it spins straight due to the fact that the garage said she’s safe to drive it without replacing the alternator… she should eventually get it replaced though. I don’t think she’s had it replaced while she’s had the car which is almost 5 years ---
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/5 "2011-08-16T08:14:26Z")
> [@Jenna Jameson.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOO](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/jenna-jameson-nooooooooooooo/44639/16): > > If the belt is fine doubtfull the pulley is screwed , if the belt shredded or suttin yeah but . Exactly, belt is 100% fine, just popped off due to moisture, and apparently the pulley? $400 difference for her if she gets it fixed or not so I think she’ll chance it for now… ---
**Author:** ![TurboTravis](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/turbotravis/32/6406_2.png) [@TurboTravis](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TurboTravis)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/6 "2011-08-16T08:14:48Z")
Text me pics of her, I may buy her an alternator if she’s cute and DTF ---
**Author:** ![jdaniels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdaniels/32/6399_2.png) [@jdaniels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jdaniels)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:14am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/7 "2011-08-16T08:14:51Z")
Sounds more like a tensioner problem. ---
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:17am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/8 "2011-08-16T08:17:14Z")
> [@Daylight Savings Time](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/daylight-savings-time/44605/19): > > Text me pics of her, I may buy her an alternator if she’s cute and DTF ![http://farm1.static.flickr.com/14/14274225_cb29eddd3b_o.jpg](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/f/e/fe1eb5a93686d0d2713b97943ea5a6d822987824.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Vovchandr](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/vovchandr/32/6275_2.png) [@Vovchandr](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Vovchandr)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/9 "2011-08-16T08:18:53Z")
Cavaliers are tensioner pulley sprung instead of bolting down a slider tensioner right? If she drove off after they put it back on, I’d say their verdict is wrong. Only possibility I see is the walls of the pulley broke off which is unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![Wayne64SS](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/wayne64ss/32/6365_2.png) [@Wayne64SS](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Wayne64SS)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:20am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/10 "2011-08-16T08:20:00Z")
> [@WNY SCCA 2008 Autox Season and \*\*\*NOVICE SCHOOL\*\*\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wny-scca-2008-autox-season-and-novice-school/44550/37): > > Sounds more like a tensioner problem. this ---
**Author:** ![88slowmarro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/88slowmarro/32/6339_2.png) [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/11 "2011-08-16T08:24:31Z")
Doubt tensioner , Prolly hydroplaned and slipped off ---
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/12 "2011-08-16T08:24:42Z")
> [@Daylight Savings Time](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/daylight-savings-time/44605/20): > > Cavaliers are tensioner pulley sprung instead of bolting down a slider tensioner right? > > If she drove off after they put it back on, I’d say their verdict is wrong. > > Only possibility I see is the walls of the pulley broke off which is unlikely. I agree, and it passed inspection 2 weeks ago? Would thy have noticed if it was wearing down? ---
**Author:** ![AutoFocusPhotography](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/34f0e0/32.png) [@AutoFocusPhotography](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/AutoFocusPhotography)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/13 "2011-08-16T08:26:28Z")
> [@After months of trial and error......](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/after-months-of-trial-and-error/44630/17): > > Doubt tensioner , Prolly hydroplaned and slipped off She started driving, 10 seconds later the battery light came on and she couldn’t steer. ---
**Author:** ![jdaniels](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jdaniels/32/6399_2.png) [@jdaniels](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/jdaniels)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/14 "2011-08-16T08:30:55Z")
> [@After months of trial and error......](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/after-months-of-trial-and-error/44630/17): > > Doubt tensioner , Prolly hydroplaned and slipped off Really, that sounds more likely to you than a tensioner problem? LOL ---
**Author:** ![88slowmarro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/88slowmarro/32/6339_2.png) [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:34am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/15 "2011-08-16T08:34:45Z")
Ya can have a new tensioner and so on and still get water under a belt and have it slide off . Esp on cavaliers esp if the plastic water guard is missing . Trust me john I have seen way more weird shit car wise than most . Not saying its not possible the tesioner is week bit with all the water we had 2 come in same situation already ---
**Author:** ![ninety1two40](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/ninety1two40/32/6332_2.png) [@ninety1two40](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ninety1two40)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2011, 8:58am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/alternator-question/259995/16 "2011-08-16T08:58:39Z")
^ GM wizard has spoken