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I broke an alternator belt on the way home today... Seems like a faily odd thing to break...

I was just wondering if its a common problem or could be an indticaton of something more major. I know that it was most likey it was just due to age (no idea how old it was) or incorrect tension but I'm still interested.

Cheers,
Ben

probably age..

they don't last forever. probably a good idea when replacing to get the powersteering & airconditioning belts done as well if you have them.

i replaced mine last year coz it was old, worn and frayed and looked like ti was due to break anyday. i'd say it's just one of those "consumable" items that need replacing every now and then.

my haynes manual recommends all belts should be inspected / adjusted / replaced at 6 month intervals, and details the procedure. if you don't have a manual ben, it's worth getting one as they come in very handy from time to time.

I've got a manual James, perhaps I should have had a look at that section and done so hey?

And I think that you are both probebly right, just age. Bit of a PITA to have to get a flat bed home, my poor car .

Ben,

I'm told you can do a quicky fix to get you home using panty hose.

Half your luck if you can lay your hands on a pair that quickly ...

Is there anyway of inspecting the timing belt without removing the rocker cover

take off the lower timing belt cover, (not the rocker/valve cover one)

thats the black plastic thing just below the rocker cover yea?

think it is black on the NBs yeh

If you have power steering and air conditining you could have used that belt to get you home.

Of course you would then need to replace both belts as it would have been stuffed by the v-pulleys as opposed to the ribbed ones.

Ok so i've changed the alternator belt and i'm going to go back to autobarn and buy an aircon belt and change that too. I've found a possible cause of the problem, i'm a bit worried.... May update later...

alternator belt also the water pump belt? don't drive too far without one of those. definitely something worth changing as preventative maintenance. this happened to me on the freeway last year... not concerned about the alternator light being on i figured i'd take a look off the freeway. that was until my radiator cracked the plastic top tank and i got a face full of steam. actually had a spare belt behind passenger seat (that i never got around to installing).

You are quite correct that the alternator belt also runs the water pump. It was when I saw the temperature guage move past where it normally sits that I parked the car and figured out what had happened.

when i heard the bang i look at the temp guage and it was more than a little over the normal temp. while plastic end tanks that can explode seem like a pretty crap way of saving weight, it saved my engine. i can't believe all cars don't come with dummy lights for temp. maybe they have a deal with the head gasket manufacturers.

Ben did the right thing in pulling over. You can cook an engine very quickly. If you have the broken belt to examine ones that are on the way out will betray cracks and deterioration- just bend them opposite way to reveal. Age and oil do their job on belts.