1G Alternator Belt Fell Off

[b00stin92]

Hey guys, I just bought the car and was told the alternator belt was replaced the day I got it. I have been driving it for a few days and the belt tends to squeal a bit, especially when cold.

I was driving home from work today and I smelled almost like a burning smell and then three lights came on. The brake light, the battery light, and some other orange light (kinda looked like a cage.) I get home and look under the hood, and the belt popped off.

It's been pouring here so I haven't had a chance to look at anything. Any suggestions on where to start? Something lock up? Alternator? Water pump?

Thanks!

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

The yellow "cage" light is your coolant system light. When all three of those lights are on at the same time it means there is a problem with your charging system.

I would buy a new belt to make sure that its the right size. Once you get it on and tight, make sure you tighten down the pivot bolt at the bottom and the retaining bolt on the top so it won't loosen up again.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Check that your harmonic balancer (crankshaft pulley) is still in one piece/hasn't separated. You will need to pull it off to inspect it thoroughly (4x 12mm bolts) but if it has separated, it will be very obvious. Otherwise, it could be an alignment issue if the water pump pulleys were installed incorrectly.

As for the "cage" light:

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[b00stin92]

Okay, I'll be sure to check everything in the morning. You think anything could of locked up due to the burning smell? And now that you mention the coolant light, when I popped the hood I did smell coolant

 

[eligst21]

If the battery light and brake light are on, usually tends to mean a bad alternator or is in the process of going out. But put a brand new belt on and tighten it and see if they go away. As for coolant, make sure all the little lines are connected down by the turbo and going to the OFH. Could be one of those. Not sure.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Nothing will "lock up" because you throw your alternator belt. It drives the water pump (and by association, the power steering) and the alternator, so the power steering won't work, the alternator won't spin/charge the battery, and the engine coolant temperature should rise. It is possible that your alternator or water pump locked up and caused your belt to be thrown, but I'd put my money elsewhere. Simple check for these is to spin each of them by hand.

 

[b00stin92]

The lights didnt come on until the belt came off.

 

[1995 gst]

This happend to me once before, my exhaust was leaking from the 02 and the hot air made the belts expand and eventually poped off. did your belt have any type of noise on startup or drive?

 

[b00stin92]

Yea it squeals when it first starts up for a couple seconds and very faintly when im driving sometimes

 

[1995 gst]

from personal experience ive noticed it when my exhaust manifold wasnt on all the way and the hot air was coming into the engine bay. when you turn on the car feel around for air leaks in ## exhaust manifold.

 

[b00stin92]

Will do, the more tips the better guys! Thanks a lot!

 

[1995 gst]

let me know what happends, i would like to know if so or if not.

 

[b00stin92]

Will do, Ill let ya know tomorrow afternoon.

 

[motozachl]

How long did you drive without the belt on? Your car could've overheated from not spinning the water pump.

 

[Dextrocardia]

I had this problem.

When you put the new belt on look to make sure the alternator lines up with the rest of the pulleys. the mounting hole on the bottom side of the engine can become wore and "oval" in shape. This allows the pulleys to stretch the belt on one side and tear.

If so, the fix. (don't shoot me) JB weld one inch into the hole. Sand it smooth. Then drill it back out, it is apparent where to drill.

Shibby.

 

[gusu]

Everyone's missing the most basic problems when your alternator belt breaks or comes off.

There are a few things that can cause them to break.

1. Wear (obviously)
2. Alternator bearings seizing up, just spin it with out the belt on. If there is ANY resistance it is bad.
3. Failing water pump.
4. Unbalanced pulleys.
5. Debris

Odds are if they could figure out how to get the belt on they could figure out the one bolt tensioning system to tighten the belt on. I HIGHLY doubt it has anything at all to do with the belt being loose.

I'd say that the bearings in the alternator being bad is pretty damn low. When was the water pump changed last? If you don't know I'd suggest replacing that and the timing belt while you are at it.

I'd go out right now and check your coolant to make sure it isn't shit brown. Just loosen the wing nut looking thing on the bottom side of your radiator. if it is any color other than green. CHANGE YOUR WATER PUMP! It is most likely that some dumb ass put tap water in it instead of distilled water which caused it to rust. Your water pump will most likely be toast as well as you need a radiator flush.

If you do need a radiator flush there are plenty of tutorials on here as to how to flush it. It's pretty simple and honestly distilled water does not cost anything to properly flush your system.

Even if you don't think that is your problem check the damn coolant anyway, it takes 30 seconds to loosen the plug then screw it back in. My coolant from the previous owner was entirely brown with zero green left in it.

Also don't check the coolant from the coolant cap. The rust/whatever will more than likely be stuck at the bottom of the radiator like some sink's ring catch.

 

[b00stin92]

Went out there this morning just to take a peak and I found the belt, it actually tore. I spun the alternator just fine, the harmonic balancer just fine, and one other pulley towards the back of the engine just fine. I looked in the coolant reservoir and there is nothing in there(not good.) Due to no coolant in there, and me smelling the coolant last night right after I shut the car off, do you think it is the water pump?

 

[luv2rallye]

Make sure the water pump pulley isn't on backwards: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...n-out-water-pump-pulley-go.html#post151166499.
Fill coolant, then while running place a long screwdriver handle against your ear and the other end against the water pump to listen for grinding (bad pump).

 

[1995 gst]

figure out the problem? if ## over heating ## bearing to ## waterpump could be out, it also sounds like a belt sqeeky but isnt the belt at all.

 

[viperfreak964]

hey man im having almost the same exact problem. i just bought a 95 eclipse gst and my serpentine shredded like two days later. it was squeeking on like my second day of driving it and then just completely ripped when i was on around 4000rpm. so i drove home without power steering and my battery light is on and the cage looking light and obviously cause nothings moving. i got a serpentine belt but it seems to be too short? do i need the like 51 inch belt?

 

[b00stin92]

Hey guys, got around to fixin it last night. Ended up being the water pump. She was leaking pretty bad. Replaced the pump, put on some new belts, started er' up and she runs better than ever! I appreciate the help, thanks again.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

Hey guys, got around to fixin it last night. Ended up being the water pump. She was leaking pretty bad. Replaced the pump, put on some new belts, started er' up and she runs better than ever! I appreciate the help, thanks again.

You replaced the water pump that fast Dang! Boys a pro a timing belt jobs. And he had us all fooled that he was a newbie and didn't even know what the dash lights meant.

 

[luv2rallye]

And he had us all fooled that he was a newbie and didn't even know what the dash lights meant.

Ya just can't trust these newbies

 

[b00stin92]

Haha been growin up around engines my whole life. Dads been a mechanic forever, took a bit of time but we got er' done with no issues whatsoever.

 

[luv2rallye]

I hope you set the belt tension properly according to the FAQ (or my article).