Alternator Belt Breaking

[Gillah11]

Hey everyone! It's been a while since I've been out for a visit. Unfortunately, this visit comes as a necessary evil to the most recent issue with my 1990 RRC.

I'm taking issue with my alternator/power steering belt. I had the alternator replaced in early September, everything fine. At the time, the mechanic mentioned to me that he couldn't get the belt (new) to stop it's intermittant squealing, and asked if I'd been hearing it a lot. I had noticed it off an on in the morning when the Rover was cold, but never consistently...

So, three weeks ago, I notice a slight burning rubber like smell on my way home one afternoon, and shortly thereafter the battery light comes on. Low and behold, the belt had broken. No problem, I go to Advance Auto and buy a new belt, install it and go on my merry way.

Last week, it breaks again! I took the belt in right away and they replaced it for free, but mentioned that I should check the alt and ps pulley's to make sure they are turning freely and not seizing, causing the belt to break. So, I do this while installing the newest belt.

Now, the alt pulley turns freely, doesn't seem to be holding up at all. The PS does NOT turn at all by hand, but when the belt is on and engine running, seems to turn just fine with everything else.

Again, I go on my merry way.

This morning the belt breaks again, the battery light comes on. This time it's 11 degrees outside and I'm not close to anything, and the battery (optima red top) doesn't give me enough juice to make it back home. I call AAA and have them bring me back...

So, the questions are (bear with my ignorance, please):

1. Is the PS pulley (opposite the alt pulley) supposed to turn freely by hand? I've read that it is shaft driven, so does that mean it shouldn't turn when I try to spin it?

2. Is it a problem with the pulley's lining up? The appear visually to line up, but that might not mean a hill of beans for all I know.

3. How tight is too tight? The mechanic from a few months ago said that he tightened the belt as much as he could to stop that intermittant squealing, to no avail. The next time I replaced it, I made sure it was as tight as I could get it, but this last time didn't wrench on it too much because I thought maybe it had been too tight all along.

4. Like every other Rover of it's age, mine marks it's territory whenever possible. A little engine oil, a bit of PS fluid. On occassion, some coolant if I've been neglecting it. Because of that, I'm pretty good about checking the fluids and topping them off regularly, but haven't noticed any significant increase in loss. So if the PS pulley were seized, or out of line, wouldn't it be leaking like a seive?

5. Also, when beltless, I don't lose and PS capabilities at all, in fact I like the steering quite a bit better. Seems looser, smoother. Shouldn't I be losing some of the PS functionality if the pulley(s) aren't turning?

I could ask questions like a 5 year old all night, but any research I've done only turns up very vauge references and solutions to this issue. It all seems to read that I should just be able to replace my belt and go on my merry way!

Does anyone have any answers? Any advice? As I said, it's suddenly very bitter here, and threatening snow this weekend. I don't want to have to be wrenching on this in single digit temperatures, and I certainly don't want to be without her if it snows!

I'd appreciate anything you have to offer! Thanks everyone!