[s-cars] Serpentine Belt Failures

[Dave Forgie]

Keith:  I feel your pain.  A few years ago, we had one Vancouver club member lose/break his serpentine belt and, just like you, it took out the timing belt.  Caused damage to several of the valves but the pistons seemed to survive.  Damage may be a function of how quick you put the clutch in (or not).  It may not be pretty ($$$).  Fingers crossed for you.

In my own experience, my serpentine belt tensioner broke (the case holding the flat clock spring cracked open due to metal fatigue), allowing the belt to go lose.  This causes immediate loss of power steering and power brakes.  Luckily I was just turning into the parking lot where I was headed and I was basically at idle.  I shut the motor off ASAP and luckily the timing belt was not affected. (I didn't want my own personal TB broke story).

MORAL OF THE STORY:  Check your serpentine belt and serpentine belt tensioner on a regular (monthly?) basis because the consequences of failure are not pretty.

Dave F.


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