Need help with Serpentine Belt!!!

[PETEY]

I tried to go get a serpentine belt for my 2001 Tahoe today and i have no clue which one i need. Apparently, there are two kinds that deal with which alternator you have. One is for a 105A alternator and the other is for a 130A. How do you know which one you need. I looked for a sticker or number on the alternator and belt but there is none.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Chads93GT]

the fastest way to do it, would be to measure the belt route with a seamstress tape measure, then go back to the store and say, "give me whatever one is xx length" they are both going to be damn near identical in length anyway. the pully on the 130 and 105a alternators isnt going to be hardly any different in size.

Ask them what the difference in length is. its probably going to be less than 2" total.

As for the correct answer, there is probably a code on the panel in the glove box that states which alternator you have, but I don't know what any of those codes mean.

 

[PETEY]

Thats a great idea. Thanks for the tip!

 

[dropmech]

I would have to imagine that the more heavy duty of the two goes with the Z71 package on the 5.3. That's just a guess though.

 

[last-442]

The alternater should have the amperage output stamped on the housing, if it's still the factory one. The one in my '03 Yukon had the 145 amp alternater, I am not sure if they were different from the tahoes.

 

[MikeTheApeman]

Are you buying local? Why can't you buy both and return the one that doesn't fit?

Check your glove box for these codes. I'm only listing the GM RPO's for alternators 100 amp or higher here.
8A7, KG8 - 130 amp
8A3, KW2 - 124 amp
8A5, 8C0, K98, KG9 - 140 amp
8C6, KG3 - 145 amp
8C7, KG4, KG5 - 150 amp
8W5, 8X5, K61, K62, K65 - 105 amp
8Z3, 8Z4, K60 - 100 amp
K09 - 120 amp
K63 - 110 amp
KG7 - 125 amp
KW1 - 160 amp
KW3 - 135 amp
KW7 - 170 amp
KW9 - 190 amp
KYU - 200 amp (WTH, how do I get one of these? LOL)