Serpentine belt went!

[JackinovParticipant 5229]

Powersteering went, brake very hard to push, vapor coming from under the hood with a hell of a lot of warning lights coming on.

Thank God I was near a parking lot (hardest 90 degree turn I’ve ever had to make), I pop the hood and there is boiling hot radiator fluid shooting out the overflow tank.

I look and I see what’s left of the serpentine belt wrapped about the different pulleys.

I knew I shouldn’t have just assumed the whining coming from the front of the engine bay was just it being low on power steering fluid.

Too hot to work on right now. So I wait a bit and once I get the strands of belt out, I realize I need to take the automatic tensioner completely out due to it being gunked up and filled with plastic fragments that are keeping it from spinning freely.

I do that, put it back in and put the new belt on, and top up the fluid, and the power steering system and everything is all good.

I’m definitely going to have the power steering system checked out (it’s been leaking fluid lately), but is there anything else I should check on?

are you a chia pet in man drag

[KolaxisParticipant 668]

I would definitely take my car to a trusted mechanic if the serpentine belt snapped. That could cause some serious damage to your motor. Luckily, you got pulled into a parking lot quickly so there’s probably nothing to worry about. Better safe than sorry, though.

Jackie: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability.

[RemovedParticipant 4676]

I might have to borrow your talents one day. My car is 11 years old and 134k miles in. Still running perfectly, but for how much longer, I wonder. I am not a car guy, aside from some body work and minor mechanical things in the past. It has just never been something to come up, being my car has been so faithful. Awesome talent that you have there.

[MarketWatcherParticipant]

I think you got it all covered. The power steering fluid leak is normal on many modern cars. Fix the belt, top off the fluids, and check them regularly. All will be fine.

[Bob1775Participant 164]

Water pump.

[KolaxisParticipant 668]

Removed wrote:

I might have to borrow your talents one day.

Yeah, I’m with you on that one, Uly. I might as well be Amish when it comes to cars. I can change a tire, check my oil and transmission fluid, and add windshield wiper fluid. Other than that, I’m helpless.

Jackie: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man and I take away reason and accountability.

[AutoliteParticipant]

Jackinov wrote:

I’m definitely going to have the power steering system checked out (it’s been leaking fluid lately), but is there anything else I should check on?

I’ve changed plenty of serpentine belts. On a job like that. be she to have at least one six pack on ice before you start. That’s very important. You also might want to invite over a friend to help you. A couple of extra large ‘Meat Lovers’ pizzas (w/ extra bacon) might be worth considering as an incentive. Tunes also probably wouldn’t hurt.

Hope this helps. Good luck…

[BeachBumParticipant 813]

Did the engine overheat? If so, let the engine cool down to ambient temperature naturally. An Overheated engine causes a blown head gasket if the engine cools too quickly.

then, fix the belt and check fluids…

I can fix most everything on my own car, aside from major engine work and Timing Belt. if you wanna fix something, Youtube has alot of DIY videos for specific makes of cars.

It’s a manly thing too- getting the job done yourself and learning something new along the way. I always feel great when I fix my car myself

[JVBParticipant]

Dam!! You can do that s~~~ yourself. Nice bro.

Peace is > piece.

[Joe RiderParticipant 51]

BeachBum wrote:

Did the engine overheat? If so, let the engine cool down to ambient temperature naturally. An Overheated engine causes a blown head gasket if the engine cools too quickly.

then, fix the belt and check fluids…

I can fix most everything on my own car, aside from major engine work and Timing Belt. if you wanna fix something, Youtube has alot of DIY videos for specific makes of cars.

It’s a manly thing too- getting the job done yourself and learning something new along the way. I always feel great when I fix my car myself

^ This

Motorcycles saved my life (tried to take it a time or to as well).

[Anonymous 43]

two words
interference motor

You have one and you have bounced the valves against the piston head, engine is done

or

you have a non interference engine, valves are good, put a new belt on and all is good.

[AutoliteParticipant]

Anonymous wrote:

two words
interference motor

You have one and you have bounced the valves against the piston head, engine is done

or

you have a non interference engine, valves are good, put a new belt on and all is good.

Indeed. That can be an issue with a failed timing belt. The ‘serpentine’ belt is the accessory drive belt. Two different belts. Two very different jobs…

[AutoliteParticipant]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpentine_belt

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_belt_(camshaft)

[AwakenedParticipant 35206]

seized water pump

In a World of Justin Beibers Be a Johnny Cash

[AutoliteParticipant]

Awakened wrote:

seized water pump

Many many years ago, my Dad bought an old car for pennies on the dollar. The car just wouldn’t start. It just wouldn’t crank over fast enough to start no matter what they tried. Change the battery, add a booster battery and tried different starters. Nothing worked so my Dad brought it home and asked me to have a look at it.

The problem was obvious. The alternator was seized solid and the alternator drive belt was dragging over the seized alternator when you tried to crank the engine.

I just took a knife and sliced the old belt off and the engine started on the very next try. The car ran like a dream. It was the first and only time that I’ve ever seen that particular problem…

[Anonymous 42]

I’m confused, did you snap a serpentine pulley belt or the timing belt?

I’ve been procrastinating two timing belts I’ve been keeping an eye on, literally pealing back the cover and inspecting it for cracks and frays, I better stop procrastinating or I’ll be talking about the tow bill and valve job on top of the broken timing belt!

Throw in a couple smashed pistons and call it a day!

[JackinovParticipant 5229]

BeachBum wrote:

Did the engine overheat? If so, let the engine cool down to ambient temperature naturally. An Overheated engine causes a blown head gasket if the engine cools too quickly.

then, fix the belt and check fluids…

Yup, everything is running fine after I did just that.

Anonymous wrote:

I’m confused, did you snap a serpentine pulley belt or the timing belt?

It was the serpentine belt.

No problems thus far- temps have been stable, and no more whining. Funny enough, I looked up to make sure I had the right belt route for my car and exactly how to do it- only took 5 minutes to learn.

Jiffy lube wanting to charge $150 for the service when you can do it for the price of the belt. Funny.

I need to much sure I have a solid set of tools in my car- been putting that off for too long, as well as a proper jack, not like that gay one they give you with the car that takes YEARS to operate.

are you a chia pet in man drag

[Author]

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