4 replies to this topic

[l_bratch]

Model: Cooper Si
Year: 1995

Hi there

When I last drove home, I heard the familiar squealing of my fan belt, so I thought it just needed a tighten. Half way through the journey the squealing stopped, and the battery light came on. This morning I took a look to see what was going on, and found this:




The belt has completely snapped, and at various points along it the teeth have been completely worn away. This belt was only fitted a couple of months ago!

Clearly I need a new belt, but what on earth might I have done wrong to cause this to happen in the first place!?

Thanks

Luke

[MRA]

Hi Luke,

Not a lot, maybe let it get too slack, they wear and stretch so "work" loose with time, the squeeling was the belt slipping....... just as a precaution check that the alternator turns freely and that there is no free play in the bearings and the same with the water pump... although the water pump will be a little tighter due to the water seals.

Fit new belt and all should be ok

Unless you drove it with no belt in which case you could have damaged the engine by overheating it this belt drives the coolant pump as well.

Regards Martin

[bmcecosse]

There are some poor quality belts out there - and these 'toothed' belts are best avoided! Use a normal V belt. It needs to be tight - but not TOO tight. A new belt should be re-tightend after a few miles - but if it later on seems to have gone slack it's better then to fit another new one - tightening an old belt usually leads to tears a few miles later. Always carry a spare belt and enough tools to fit it - and NEVER drive the car more than a very short distance if the belt has snapped!

[l_bratch]

I had no idea toothed belts were considered to be bad, I shall try to find a decent V belt. Sadly I think my usual local place only does these Goodyear toothed ones, but I'll have a look around.

Assuming it snapped when the squealing stopped on the journey home, then it would have only been running for 5 minutes or so without a belt - is this likely to have damaged much? The temperature guage didn't go unusually high or anything, I'd definitely have noticed that.

Edited by l_bratch, 08 July 2009 - 09:54 AM.

[998dave]

You should be okay, and I've never had a problem with toothed belts.

With the locations of the wear I'd be checking everything spins properly, looks like somethings jammed and it's torn the belt up.

Check everything, make sure the pulleys are clean, and fit a new belts, tighten after a few miles.

Dave