Replaced the alternator, 2 days later the serpentine belt shreds off

Two days ago I had my alternator replaced and my
Oil changed. Last night I was on the freeway. All of a sudden the battery light comes on, the power steering goes out. I coasted off the freeway. I can smell rubber burning, the coolant is boiling out and the serpentine belt is shredded to pieces. I can tell that one side of it is frayed. Do you think the belt was not put back on correctly after the new alternator was installed?
 
My first guess is that the belt was off by 1 rib, somewhere.. I'd imagine that's happened to all of us at one time or another.. If you still have the old alternator, it wouldn't hurt to compare the pulleys to make sure they have the same number of ribs.

assuming all of that checks out, my advice would be to just shrug, and buy a new belt. but Before you install it, give each pulley a spin. (except the crank, obviously.) Maybe you'll find something that's bound up. Idlers are cheap, and easy to replace, so if the bearings sound rough, just replace 'em.

Once the inspection is complete, install the new belt and triple-check that it's seated on every pulley the way it should be.

On second thought, maybe buy two new belts. It never hurts to have an extra in the spare tire well. :)
 
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