I've already changed both my belts twice since I bought my Alpha. And I use OE belts. It's got 64K on it now. Still on the original tensioner though. I've experienced mud getting in the grooves of the serpentine belts and causing lots of noise. The stuff embeds itself in the rubber. I used to try to clean it out but you never get it all. The smaller A/C belt is a stretchy belt and can be a bitch to roll on with out a special tool for installation some times. To remove that belt you just cut it off. Belt dressings are worthless on serp belts and the stuff needs to be cleaned from the pulleys before installing new belts or the new belts get contaminated. I install a lot of new belts in a week and experience says OE belts work the best with Gates being the next best. Stay away from the Gatorbacks, daycos, any parts store brands or second line quality belts. But then any belt will work in an emergency. So they are fine for a cheap spare. I think the GM belt is $34 my cost and you can get them at any GM dealer. The stretchy belt may cost more but I can't remember. When starting engine cold and it starts squealing , spray a little windex or water on the belt. If noise goes away or changes ,its the belt. Water pump will usually rumble if bad, alternator bearings will wirr along with idler and tensioner bearings. Something thats siezed will really cause a squeal ,and usually smoke and stink. There is a TSB that addresses a squeaking chirping belt noise and it involves a missalignment of the power steering pulley. You check it with some kind of laser tool that mounts on the power steer pulley. To adjust you need to press power steer pulley farther on or pull off a bit. This is only on the 5.3L engine.
