99 Mazda protege how to tighten alternator (vehicle, engine, replace, battery)

[ttk]

Hey guys I've had my car chck out because it sputters when I try to accelerate. The engine gets up to 15 and apps where I an go any faster unless I floor it just to get to 20 then it caps again at 20. My mechanic says its the alternator going bad and he keeps tightening something on the alternator. After he does this the car runs fine for a few months. How can I tighten whatever he is tightening?

[00molavi]

So he is tightening the belt on the alternator. Most newer cars have a spring loaded tensioner to tighten the belt automatically. In your car, probably there is a screw/nut that you loosen, then put tension on the alternator until the belt is tight enough and while holding everything in place, retighten the nut.

Check on the autozone site, it has vehicle specific repair guides and it should help.

I am still not sure though that your engine is weak because of the alternator belt. When the alternator is not charging, your battery dies and the car stops/doesn't start.

[HandsUpThumbsDown]

Or, it is a springloaded tensioner and the spring is worn out? Happened to me once, I just replaced the tensioner pulley.

Anyway that's a weird explanation your mechanic has given you.

[ttk]

im not sure. like i said, he only said he had to replace a "belt" possibly a fan belt?? and then "tighten" something. after that, he charged me $25 and it worked like a charm for 1.5 years. he said if it got worse he may have to rebuild the alternator but not likely. unfortunately, he is sick and i need help getting this done. if i floor it, accelerate too much (more than up to 10mph) after sitting still, the car just jerks and the speedometer flips back and forth from 0 to 25, just like the car. after a few minutes it ok unless i accelerate too fast or get to a stoplight or sign then it starts again.

[bobman]

To be honest, your description isn't making much sense.
There are a million things which could cause this.
Exactly how sick is the guy ? Could you pay him $25 to get him to show you how to do it ?

Originally Posted by ttk

im not sure. like i said, he only said he had to replace a "belt" possibly a fan belt?? and then "tighten" something. after that, he charged me $25 and it worked like a charm for 1.5 years. he said if it got worse he may have to rebuild the alternator but not likely. unfortunately, he is sick and i need help getting this done. if i floor it, accelerate too much (more than up to 10mph) after sitting still, the car just jerks and the speedometer flips back and forth from 0 to 25, just like the car. after a few minutes it ok unless i accelerate too fast or get to a stoplight or sign then it starts again.