VerbalKint
15+ Year Contributor
- 137
- 1
- May 4, 2004
-
Cabot,
Arkansas
Shesh.. Never quits, does it?
On the way home from work today, running fine.
About 10 minutes into a 30 minute trip, alternator light and coolant check light come on..
Odd.. Didn't hear anything break/snap/shread. Start watching the car very close.
The temp starts to creep up past where it normally runs, so I decide to pull over and shut her down to prevent engine damage.
Get out, and hanging from the bottom of the car is what's LEFT of my alternator / waterpump belt.
Called wife. about an hour later, and 16$ poorer, car has a shiny new belt.
As i pull up in the driveway, it squeals one time right before i shut the car down for the night, so I pop the hood, to check the tension on the belt.
I didn't see any damage to the new belt (YET), but there's a chunk of the pully on the alternator missing.
Since I won't have the time to change the alternator or it's pully (i'd like to put a higher power alternator on it anyway) at the moment, till this weekend, does anyone think it'd be ok to drive a few more days, then work on it, or should I play it save, park it, and make my wife do without a car till I get it fixed?
Thanks
D.
On the way home from work today, running fine.
About 10 minutes into a 30 minute trip, alternator light and coolant check light come on..
Odd.. Didn't hear anything break/snap/shread. Start watching the car very close.
The temp starts to creep up past where it normally runs, so I decide to pull over and shut her down to prevent engine damage.
Get out, and hanging from the bottom of the car is what's LEFT of my alternator / waterpump belt.
Called wife. about an hour later, and 16$ poorer, car has a shiny new belt.

As i pull up in the driveway, it squeals one time right before i shut the car down for the night, so I pop the hood, to check the tension on the belt.
I didn't see any damage to the new belt (YET), but there's a chunk of the pully on the alternator missing.
Since I won't have the time to change the alternator or it's pully (i'd like to put a higher power alternator on it anyway) at the moment, till this weekend, does anyone think it'd be ok to drive a few more days, then work on it, or should I play it save, park it, and make my wife do without a car till I get it fixed?
Thanks
D.