Lost alternator/water pump belt - worried about possible damage

[Kenny_Z]

My alternator belt snapped while I was driving. I couldn't get off the road due to steep ditches on either side so my temp gauge was pegged for I'm not sure how long. I am worried about damage to the engine. I was so shaken up by trying to get the car off the road that I don't know if it was before or after I turned off the key that I watched the oil pressure gauge go from near 80 to 0.

I had the car towed after I couldn't get a replacement belt that fit. I have no idea where my spare belt went. I haven't been brave enough to start it since we got home. I know I'm going to need to do some actual investigation but right now my mind is going all over the place. There's no visible oil leaking from the engine. The flatbed didn't have any oil on the bed when the car arrived either.

Any advice on the steps I should take to make sure I didn't do any permanent damage?

[DMCMW Dave]

Put on a belt, fill/bleed the coolant and start it up. It will either run or it won't.

[Doogie]

[QUOTE=Kenny_Z;165003]My alternator belt snapped while I was driving. I couldn't get off the road due to steep ditches on either side so my temp gauge was pegged for I'm not sure how long. I am worried about damage to the engine. I was so shaken up by trying to get the car off the road that I don't know if it was before or after I turned off the key that I watched the oil pressure gauge go from near 80 to 0.

I had the car towed after I couldn't get a replacement belt that fit. I have no idea where my spare belt went. I haven't been brave enough to start it since we got home. I know I'm going to need to do some actual investigation but right now my mind is going all over the place. There's no visible oil leaking from the engine. The flatbed didn't have any oil on the bed when the car arrived either.

QUOTE]

Whew! Take a deep breath! I feel your pain!

I had a similar situation after I brought 3589 back to life. Got her running with Ken an Nick and Larry's and more help, and started driving my car around the city with amazement it actually ran after a near 30 year sleep in a garage. replaced a lot of parts, Tires, Brakes, fuel Pump , fuel lines, Filters. You know. The stuff you have to replace before you run out and go driving it in a 104 degree day during a parade.

Which is exactly what I did. Drove it in a 4th of July Parade on a day that hit 104 Degrees F. Slow driving, Hot engine, hot day.

On the way home, the 30 year old "fan Belt" disintegrated. (Oops, I had once thought about replacing those.... huh...). I didn't really notice it until the Alternator light was on an caught my eye. I'm thinking that's what caught your eye too?

I thought to myself. OK, No more A/C. I'm 2 Miles from home, I can make it no problem.

Up the small hill, we'll be fine. Wait, what's that? The temp gauge is PEGGED!! OH SHIT! That's right, it's the same Bloody belt that drive the water pump! F&*K!

Turn down a road, pull over, kill the engine. Steam PORING from the Engine compartment. F$%!!

Let It cool down. Call AAA.

Play nice with the gentleman in the silver pickup truck slowing down, rolling down his window, about to offer assistance, and out of his mouth... "Whatsamatter? The FLUX Capacitor Break??!!'

ahole.

AAA Comes, tows car 2 miles to house. Replace belts (thank you Julie from DMCMW!) and refill Anti-Freeze.

All is well. No problems. That was 18 months ago. in fact, I just last Saturday drove her 2 hours each way to our annual club meeting. Never missed a beat. temp never got above the 1/4 mark.

My bet is you are fine.

But call Julie at DMCMW and get 2 sets of belts tomorrow. :-)

Doogie

[David T]

Put on a belt, fill/bleed the coolant and start it up. It will either run or it won't.

Also check the oil and add any if necessary. If you got it as hot as I think it may not even crank. If it does crank and start leave the cap off the header bottle and keep an eye on the coolant level. If it goes down add more and if you see a lot of bubbles figure you popped the head gaskets. If you have to add a lot of coolant you need to open the bleeder screw over the water pump to get the air out.

[mluder]

Your mileage may vary but for what it's worth, same thing happened to me.

I was driving down the interstate and suddenly heard a loud clunk. My volts dropped and temp shot up. WTF?!?
Rather than pull off the road on a busy interstate during rush hour I limped it to the next off ramp and into a parking lot - Probably about a mile all told. It was steaming, shooting coolant out of the overflow, and complaining the whole way.
Turns out the water pump pulley sheared off... found it sitting on the muffler.

Needless to say I AAA'd it back to the house and even drove it from the tow truck int the garage.

After replacing the water pump and belt it still runs like a champ and I notice no apparent ill affects.

Long story short - You're probably fine.

Cheers
Steven

[SS Spoiler]

Always thought you could look in where the oil goes to see if the plastic screen is melted.

[David T]

Always thought you could look in where the oil goes to see if the plastic screen is melted.

Yes, the plastic screen is a good indicator of overheat but after a certain point you damage the bearings because you have boiled the oil and the pump can't pump oil vapors. After a while you melt the wiring on the motor. If you don't pay attention and keep driving it just gets more and more expensive. if you *only* popped the head gaskets that is the first step on the way to total destruction. The order of business now once it cools off is to refill the coolant, check the oil level, and see if it will crank. If it cranks see if it will start. Immediately check for oil pressure and watch the coolant level once it starts.

[Kenny_Z]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I finally got to work on the car today. At first it was like the engine didn't want to turn at all. The starter engaged but there wasn't enough torque to turn the flywheel. I know the battery didn't have a full charge, the charger was still charging it when I took it off, but after 4 hours I figured it might be enough to at least turn over the engine if not start it. I put the car in 4th and pushed her a couple of feet and the engine wasn't locked up. I gave it another shot and this time she fired up with no hesitation. The engine ran smoothly and I had full oil pressure. I only drove her about 20 feet from where the truck left her to her parking spot. I shut her down and started her without any trouble about half an hour later. I'm not going to attempt a drive until I've spent time bleeding the coolant.

I'm definitely going to baby her with very short drives for the next few weeks. I'm hoping there wasn't any permanent damage.

[mluder]

Thanks for all the comments guys. I finally got to work on the car today. At first it was like the engine didn't want to turn at all. The starter engaged but there wasn't enough torque to turn the flywheel. I know the battery didn't have a full charge, the charger was still charging it when I took it off, but after 4 hours I figured it might be enough to at least turn over the engine if not start it. I put the car in 4th and pushed her a couple of feet and the engine wasn't locked up. I gave it another shot and this time she fired up with no hesitation. The engine ran smoothly and I had full oil pressure. I only drove her about 20 feet from where the truck left her to her parking spot. I shut her down and started her without any trouble about half an hour later. I'm not going to attempt a drive until I've spent time bleeding the coolant.

I'm definitely going to baby her with very short drives for the next few weeks. I'm hoping there wasn't any permanent damage.

This is great news!

Cheers
Steve

[nullset]

Keep in mind that that temperature gauge is in one of the upper coolant pipes above the engine. If the coolant is not circulating, that gauge is not at all a reliable indicator of actual engine temperature.

If the coolant boils off, that gauge will peg way before there's any actual danger / damage to the engine.

Now, having said that, if you ever see the temperature jump up like that stop the engine as soon as you can and figure out what's wrong!

You most likely have nothing to worry about.

--buddy