will a loose alternator belt hinder charging capacity? thank you.

joel

Yes! The slipping belt can have an even more noticable effect as the days get shorter and your using your headlights alot more and the colder weather starts putting an additional strain on your battery. It makes the charging system even less efficient if the belt is not keeping the alternator consistantly spinning.
If the belts are worn or frayed replace them. The older MB's had mutiple belts
for the fan and alternator with manual tension adjustors. I believe by 1987 most models went to the single serpintene belt with a spring loaded tension pulley and fixed alternator mount....so no adjustment is necessery or possible.
Which model year do you have?

__________________
FRED

Daily Driver: 98 E300TD 199K
Hobby Car: 69 Austin Mini
Past Diesels: 84 300SD, 312K
87 300SDL, 251K
94 Chev. K-1500 6.5Ltr.TD, 373K

Sure can.

The alternator bracket on my 240 got bent from the PO poking around and I have to tighten it up every 1000 miles or so. I carry a can of belt dressing with me in case it happens at night or when i have dress clothes on.

Cheers,

Bill

1980 300TD. The tensioner is as tight as it goes, but the belt is still very loose. It does spin the alternator at idle, but I am only getting about just above 12 volts when testing the battery leads at idle.

Wrong or stretched belt.

Could also be the wrong pulley on the alternator but I think my first answer is the correct one.

Replace the belt and happy motoring.

Cheers,

Bill