Threw a belt today! WTF

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May 9, 2008 | 08:23 AM

*98Formula*

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Threw a belt today! WTF

This is weird today I got to work and have to go up a long round-a-bout driveway to get to the parking deck. As soon as i turned to start making the big circle I heard something sound like glass breaking. I knew that it sounded like a belt because I lost all power steering and no alternator. I drive it just far enough to park and lift the hood. The damned belt is gone I mean nothin left. I have had them break before but this belt was maybe a year old and it broke already? Other question is the car was hot before the belt broke and then had to drive about another minute to get somewhere I could park I don't think it could have damaged anything in that short time. When I turned the car off I immediatly lifted the hood and it was just a little steam and the radiator was bubbling. I got very little overflow so I think it's fine. What are the chances of me putting a new belt on there and then it throwing it again? All the pulleys seem to spin fine so nothing is seized up or anything.

May 9, 2008 | 09:21 AM

Grimes

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From: Northern NJ

weird that the belt went out so soon. are you sure all your accessories turn fine? Either way, you should be okay just throwing a new one on. A good brand to consider are goodyear gatorback belts.

May 9, 2008 | 09:41 AM

*98Formula*

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Yea i got the GF bringing me one up to work so i can try to change the belt in the dark which should be fun

. Everything top end turns fine it was still to hot to try and turn the alternator but I sure as **** can't change that in a parking deck haha. I think the alternator is fine though as i've never had any problems with it and i have only seen 1 ever freeze up and it was because it got a bunch of stuff in it. Im hoping I will be okay i guess i will have to take it out for a spin after I get the belt on to make sure it works okay.

May 9, 2008 | 10:40 AM

Deeavi

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Chances are your tensioner is bad, if you have never changed it. Also could be a bad idler pulley.

May 9, 2008 | 11:55 AM

85mudblazin

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If the car was hot before then you might want to check your waterpump and make sure it isnt seizing up, if it did seize up then that belt would be gone quick IMHO.

May 9, 2008 | 07:02 PM

Another_User

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Get a Katech tensioner. I looked under the hood after my cam swap/underdrive pulley install and saw the belt had come almost completely off (pretty common). The Katech tensioner rocks.

May 10, 2008 | 04:22 AM

Sbertolone

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i threw one once, but it was at 6500rpm. I was actually suprised how easy the belt change is in these cars. I put a gatorback and havent had any problems since.