Carpokes Porsche Forum

This question has been asked to death Im sure. I googled it and got a wide range of responses...

• Use the special tool...

• ~5mm of deflection (Old forums)

• 2mm deflection (NC944er youtube)

• 1/8 to 1/4 twist (Old forums)

• "Wicked" tight...

Looking for the Carpokes opinion here. I just changed my alternator and put on a new belt and tensioner rod, Im somewhere between 2-5mm (hard to tell, seems like 5mm) or 1/4 twist... Dont want to stress any bearings, but its definitely wicked tight...

Crap photo of the twist method.

The factory tension level is crazy tight. I've tried it with the official tension tool and It just seems excessively tight to me. Here's mine right now. This is probably 3 or 4 turns of the turnbuckle below the factory spec -- maybe an 8 or 9 on the tool. Been doing it this way for decades with no squeal or other apparent problems.

Tom wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:46 am The factory tension level is crazy tight. I've tried it with the official tension tool and It just seems excessively tight to me. Here's mine right now. This is probably 3 or 4 turns of the turnbuckle below the factory spec -- maybe an 8 or 9 on the tool. Been doing it this way for decades with no squeal or other apparent problems.

@Tom How did I know it would be you, and damn, a youtube video that didnt come up when I searched Google. You are on top of it!

Your twist looks similar to mine... maybe even less twist then I have going on... so I guess I'll just leave it as I have it for now.

spacecad3t wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:52 am

Tom wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:46 am The factory tension level is crazy tight. I've tried it with the official tension tool and It just seems excessively tight to me. Here's mine right now. This is probably 3 or 4 turns of the turnbuckle below the factory spec -- maybe an 8 or 9 on the tool. Been doing it this way for decades with no squeal or other apparent problems.

@Tom How did I know it would be you, and damn, a youtube video that didnt come up when I searched Google. You are on top of it!

Your twist looks similar to mine... maybe even less twist then I have going on... so I guess I'll just leave it as I have it for now.

My car was on the lift, so that's a bespoke video just for you. Youtube just makes it easy to upload and share while standing under the car.

p.s., give it a thumbs up or comment to bump its views -- trying to get to the min hours watched to start making a dollar a month

Tom wrote: Mon Apr 27, 2026 10:58 am p.s., give it a thumbs up or comment to bump its views -- trying to get to the min hours watched to start making a dollar a month

Done! Thanks again.

@Tom Sorry for the low res video, but curious what you think. Didn't notice this before my alternator/belt change. Is my belt too loose/tight? Or is the AC clutch/bearing going out? I wondered if the PO had loosened the belt on purpose to reduce this squealing.

spacecad3t wrote: Sun May 17, 2026 6:33 am @Tom Sorry for the low res video, but curious what you think. Didn't notice this before my alternator/belt change. Is my belt too loose/tight? Or is the AC clutch/bearing going out? I wondered if the PO had loosened the belt on purpose to reduce this squealing.

Yeah, I dunno, that sounds more like a metal-on-metal chirp to me than traditional belt squeal from a loose belt -- pulley bearing or a/c clutch maybe. I'd spray a little water mist on the belt and see if the sound goes away. If so, then you might play with the tension and/or get a new belt and cross your fingers. Assuming it keeps chirping instead, I'd put a mechanics stethoscope near the various pulleys (safely) to see where it's coming from.

I get a squeal from the AC belt at cold start pretty often. I thought my compressor might be on it's way. My belt is no where near that tight. I guess the Porsche engineers know best. Time to tighten mine a bit more

Following up here as I finally got around to testing the belt squeal. I spray water on it, immediately quiets up. Must be too loose still? Or maybe galled from old pullies? Im going to try and add a tiny bit more tension this week and see.