Belt disappeared while driving

[Jairbear26]

The belt that runs off the alternator snapped(I'm assuming) off the car while I was driving. It was a pretty wet night.
I had recently(about 4 or 5 months ago) had my alternator replaced and everything tightened up.
The belt was squealing a lot when I first started it up until It got warm. Then it would only squeal when I accelerated from a dead stop and around 500ish idle.

The other two belts on the car are still there, but the outer most belt is completely gone. Any ideas as to what might have happened, and If i might have a serious engine issue with my car?

I had lost power steering and the car was starting to drastically overheat when I'm guessing the belt broke.
94 n/t.

 

[familyMAN]

For future reference, if I belt is squealing, tighten and/or replace.

Do you have pics of the belt you lost? Your post is a bit confusing.

 

[2slow4now]

Sounds like the belt snapped that runs power steering and the water pump.

Could you have caused serious damage to your engine? You sure could have.
Don't drive it anymore, replace the belt, start the car and see what it does.

 

[DSM1G90]

PS belt is the small outside belt.

ALT belt also runs the WP.

You did lose the ALT belt and you lose PS (if equipped and since the PS pulley is attached to the WP pulley) and WP.

Prob didn't have the ALT tight enough since it was squealing real bad. Thing has to be tight where yo only have a quarter inch deflection when pressing on the belt between the two pulleys.

 

[codym]

The power steering pump has it's own special belt , it can be removed with no ill effects other than having a hard time steering. It's been a while since I've had mine on but I believe the p/s pump is dependent on the water pump, the w/p and alternator are dependent on the crank pulley to match engine speed.

I have my p/s removed and the lines looped at the rack, stuffed with Bobcat hydraulic grease. It's alot easier to steer like this rather than just taking the belt off and leaving the pump on.

So long as the belt is there between the alternator, crank pulley, and water pump your engine is fine.

 

[Jairbear26]

Thanks for the replies all!
I'm going to pic up a new belt and have it put on and all the pulleys checked to make sure everything is alright!