Belt Snapped!

[tonyloban]

Not the timing belt, but I got your attention. lol. I'm not exactly sure if this thread goes here or not. Please move it if it doesn't.

So I'm driving and right before I get on the freeway, I hear a faint snap/pop sound. I didn't think it was my car.. I could barely hear it. Drove about 10 miles and got off the exit and when driving through town, power steering wasn't working, looked in the mirror and fluid was leaking. I was like 1 minute from home so I just drove very very lightly and then after a hill it started to smoke so I stopped and turned off the car.

An old guy pulled over and told me it was the fan belt. He was correct.

So what do I do? There are two belts there, and I don't know what either one is really for. One ripped and the other came off. What do R3v? I have zero to none experience in this situation. The timing belt is fine, from what I've been told, but I will be changing that soon... at this point, I don't trust the PO.

[Ether-D]

Just go to the parts store and get all three belts and a Haynes manual. You can doit!

[AndrewBird]

Losing a belt should not cause the engine to leak or smoke. Something else is also wrong.

[mtechnik]

Not the timing belt, but I got your attention. lol. \

So not cool brah!

[tonyloban]

Just go to the parts store and get all three belts and a Haynes manual. You can doit!

I have a Bentley. I'm assuming it's on there also?

And all 3 belts? Are you saying change the timing right away too? I'm short on cash and would like to just change the 2 missing belts right now. And what are their names and what do they do if someone can chime in and help me out.

I'm totally game to do it, but I'm pretty sure the timing is a lot harder than those other 2 belts.

[tonyloban]

Losing a belt should not cause the engine to leak or smoke. Something else is also wrong.

It wasn't the engine leaking or smoking. The radiator I'm pretty sure. I think if the engine was smoking or leaking, It wouldn't have drove at all by that point. It drove fine before and after, I had to drive it back home... mostly downhill from where I was so the engine wasn't over heating and engine light wasn't coming on.

I'm hoping everything is ok. I'll most likely take it to a mechanic to check it out. I know a few people who can look at it. Not like it's e30 specific. Just a general issue from what I understand.

Also, I'm pretty sure it was the coolant leaking because there was non left in the container when I pulled over to stop.


I'll post pics tomorrow, it's too dark outside right now. But maybe ya'll can help me figure out what it is specifically.
I say this because on the driver's side, there is this cover behind the lights, probably to cover the electrical stuff, it was loose and not bolted or contained so I took it out (there's a similar cover on the pass side too, but "bolted" on). Also, there is like a 2 or 3 inch diameter pipe, that had some sort of cover but with a hole that was loose so I removed that too just for now (the cover, not pipe). Is that pipe for air flow or hwhat? I'll post pictures tomorrow!

[Ether-D]

If it's an m20, and had a/c, it should have three. Water pump/alt, a/c, and power steering.

[tonyloban]

If it's an m20, and had a/c, it should have three. Water pump/alt, a/c, and power steering.

tis an m20b25. Then three there are. Couldn't really see where the third one was. Anyway, is replacing them hard to do and I'm assuming there's probably a write up somewhere.. I'll look for that. Will the Bentley manual help with this also?

[Ether-D]

If you can change a tire, you can learn to change belts. It's just about loosening the right bolts and using the adjusters to snug-up the belts.

There's one main bolt with which the alternator is attached to the engine and one adjuster nut. Crack (loosen slightly) the main bolt, loosen the adjuster's 12 or 13mm nut, use a 19mm to twist the big nut that is the adjuster to loosen the tension on the belt. Install new belt, then snug up the belt with the adjuster (19mm). While keeping a bit of pressure on the 19mm, tighten the 12 or 13mm that locks the adjuster. Then tighten the main bolt. Repeat for P/S and A/C. Make sure you do the inner most belt first and work your way out.

Doit!

[Vivek]

Sounds like you have two problems: two snapped belts and something with your radiator/cooling system that could be as simple as a hose or as complicated as a water pump.

[tonyloban]

Well tomorrow I've got all day. I'm going in. Hopefully I can bum some money off my parentals for the belts. Is there a type of belt that you guys would recommend or is it just OEM belts? What are they called? What should I look for?

[mkcman17]

This is becoming more complicated than it has to be; just loosen the tensioner, install and tighten. Brand doesn't really matter so long as they're new.

[tonyloban]

This is becoming more complicated than it has to be; just loosen the tensioner, install and tighten. Brand doesn't really matter so long as they're new.

Lol. Good to know. All info is useful though. Is there a certain size? I don't even know where to get one... Haha. Auto zone or some auto store I'm assuming?

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[JinormusJ]

Belt Snapped!

Losing a belt should not cause the engine to leak or smoke. Something else is also wrong.

False
My alternator belt snapped and caused my car to overheat because the fan belt was the same belt; this subsequently burst my thermostat hose and caused my throttle body heater to bust aswell. Coolant everywhere on the ride home.


People kept telling me it was a fan clutch. EVERYONE.

If it happened to me, it can just as easily happen to him.



Check your belts, then check your coolant lines; there are three main lines in the front you will become very friendly with while working on your car. If there was nothing left in your coolant reservoir, it is most likely not the Water Pump as that would be a slow leak. A quick leak would be any of the hoses or the throttle body heater gasket. Check there before messing with the radiator/water pump. Sometimes the fan likes to get a little too close with the water-pump hose and eats right through it, so check there.

Get friendly with 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm, and 19mm sockets. They will be your friend. ED already posted the sizes; frankly it's just as easy as getting under your car and checking which sockets line up

[tonyloban]

False
My alternator belt snapped and caused my car to overheat because the fan belt was the same belt; this subsequently burst my thermostat hose and caused my throttle body heater to bust aswell. Coolant everywhere on the ride home.


People kept telling me it was a fan clutch. EVERYONE.

If it happened to me, it can just as easily happen to him.



Check your belts, then check your coolant lines; there are three main lines in the front you will become very friendly with while working on your car. If there was nothing left in your coolant reservoir, it is most likely not the Water Pump as that would be a slow leak. A quick leak would be any of the hoses or the throttle body heater gasket. Check there before messing with the radiator/water pump. Sometimes the fan likes to get friendly with the water-pump hose and eats right through it, so check there.

Get friendly with 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 17mm, and 19mm sockets. They will be your friend. ED already posted the sizes; frankly it's just as easy as getting under your car and checking which sockets line up

That's what happened! fluid everywhere! I haven't had a good chance to investigate today, but tomorrow I should be able to figure it out hopefully.

I'm going to guess that same thing happened as you. Tis a fast fix or not?