I just removed my air pump and found the right size belt to replace the old one with but my problem is now, I do not know how tight this damn belt is suppose to be. When I first started the car it squeeled real loud then stalled the engine. So I loosened it and it did the same thing without stalling. Are there any general rules of thumb when tightening a belt? If so, I need to know em. Thanks guys.

Also, I read on robrobinette.com that the belt to replace it with could be a 4 ribbed belt when the stock is 5 ribbed. Is that okay?

 

i've used 3 and 4 ribbed without issues. Some one told me that you should be able to take the longest section of belt and be twist it and that it will be tight enough that you can only twist it half a turn but still some give in it. Most of time when my belts squeel it is due to them being to loose.

 

I figured it would squeel from being too loose but the car stalled because of it. So i couldnt see the car stalling from anything other than it being too tight

 

being to tight, i really dont see it causing the car to stall, being to tight can cause other issues but to be tight enough to stall i would be to tight to start i would think.

 

Removing the air pump changes the idle mixture. I wish I could tell you more.

 

Like J.S.J. said it changes the mixture, because removing the air pump switches the factory ECU to "limp mode" unless you replace the factory ECU or add a diode to trick the factory ECU into thinking it's still there. Other than that if turning over the engine a few time after removing the sparks hasn't helped I'd look at getting a different belt. There are some direct replacementsout there that shouldn't require twisting the belt to tighten it (sounds slightly dodgy to me)

 

He was saying to try to twist the belt to check and see if it was tight enough. If it is tight enough then you will not be able to twist it much. That's not "slightly dodgy."

 

I did a little research and they said that your only suppose to be able to turn the belt 1/4 a turn without using much force. So, with that being, I believe my belt was actually too loose.

And as for the idle mixture changing, I have the PFS purple box... that should help with the mixture right? I havent had any other problems since it stalled so I'm assuming yes.

BTW: I think it stalled because the alternator wasn't getting turned.