I just bought an 89 323 hatchback 1.6 base with only 87k miles from a grandma who had it under a tarp for years and replaced all the belts because on the ride home the alt/water pump belt broke. Have gone through 3 in a month it’s gotten to where I keep an extra in my back seat to change it on the road. I cleaned the pulleys, tightened, loosened, and can’t get rid of the squeal when accelerating. It comes and goes though. And isn’t effected by the load on the alternator. A few people told me it could be the alignment on the alternator because that’s where the squeal was coming from but when it snapped there was rubber buildup on the water pump pulley. What can I do to fix this?

 

Remove the belt and hand rotate all items that should spin on that belt.......if you have one item that has resistance when you try to spin by hand.......replace that item. Don't forget to check any belt tensioners also.

 

I checked them all and they spin freely

 

if you have one item that has resistance when you try to spin by hand.......replace that item. Don't forget to check any belt tensioners also.

 

everything spins freely and the sound comes from the alternator for sure, I unplugged the alternator and the squeal went away. I think the alternator is having too much resistance. The way the belts break is like they are being pulled apart.