my apologizes for being slow and unable to grasp what is probably obvious, but i am not confident enough to turn any additional bolts or nuts until i know exactly how to adjust my alternator belt.
I spent the better part of Sunday in the garage changing and fixing lots things....the headlamps, the antenna, the rear hatch latch, the shifter knob and overdrive switch, the pair of license plate bulbs, the electrical plug for all things we need to preheat our engines up here in Alaska winters, the oil and filter, checking all the fluid levels, etc. Found the alternator belt extremely loose with over 4" of play compared to the 2 other belts. Yikes. I think that is what has been making the odd noise at start up. All belts are fairly new and in good shape.
This may sound trivial but as a 60 year old female, i think i did a lot and felt pretty good about the grease under my fingernails and even the wound on my index finger from being reckless with the screwdriver. Still, i hope someone will reply in detail about how to tighten this belt.
I can't find any decent references for this year/model and i am simply not the natural grease monkey who is comfortable seeing how things work by taking them apart. So, do i loosen all 3 bolts/nuts? How careful must i be in moving the alternator away from the engine? Can i use a prybar to help? Do i need to disconnect the battery if i am using something metal to pry? What is the appropriate amount of play in a properly adjusted belt?
I have learned from many bad experiences, that it is often better to spend hours working on my own car rather than pay someone to do shoddy and sloppy work. Unfortunately, i don't have the background knowledge to make decisions about things not obvious to me.