I think this alignment problem is self-inflicted lol (it happened after I replaced the bearings/tensioner/crank pulley). I can look at the tensioner but it's a pretty simple design and appears to be in the correct location. The A/C belt on mine only drives the a/c, everything else runs on a main serpentine belt. I was driving it around with the a/c belt off and the squeak is still there so it's clearly not a/c related. In terms of running it with no belts at all, yes I did and it was quiet. The problem is that it's quiet *with* the belt on too until the oil gets up to temp. It took over 30 mins at idle for the noise to start to come back yesterday and I can't run it that long without a belt since the water pump is belt driven I need to take the belt off after it's hot but I've been afraid of breaking a hose and scalding myself with hot coolant.