2001 4runner 3.4L scraping noise in cold weather.

[toyota4all]

First off I just joined today so forgive me if this is in the wrong place (or let me know were I should be posting to). When its cold outside (>17F) my 4runner makes a scraping/grinding/rattle that I am fairly certain is coming from the alternator. The alternator that's in there is the 3rd one I've installed in the last 2 years. all the previous ones failed in cold weather with the same symptoms/noises i tried loosening the belt tension a bit but its already pretty loose any looser and it squeaks.

so is this an alignment issue or a tension issue or something else? any help would be appreciated. my other car is a chevy spark DONT MAKE ME DRIVE IT!!

 

[slides]

does the noise just happen for a minute and go away or does it stay? where in MN are you?

 

[toyota4all]

It usually goes away after the trucks good and warm if not a little after that.

I live in the Chanhassen area