[V8] New Serpentine Belt Goes Wild!!!

[Kneale Brownson]

I just replaced a Serpentine belt on V8 #1 and found that half of one of
the ribs  was missing.  Not sure when that occurred, but I did replace the
hydraulics pump a couple years ago and ended up with the belt running
backwards (upside down) at the A/C pulley because somehow I got it twisted.
 Only ran that way a few miles before I caught on and put it right.  I
changed the belt because I was resealing the pump (first time I put it in,
it was a "known good one" from a salvage yard, so I didn't reseal it then)
and I noticed that the leak that prompted the reseal job had made the belt
feel gummy.  Then, after I took it off, I saw it was missing a section of
rib.  It's possible the belt has run the last couple of years with part of
that rib missing. 

At 08:09 AM 7/26/2004 -0700, Campozano, Robert wrote:
>From: Zay Campozano [mailto:zay at rennlist.net] 
>Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 7:33 PM
>To: v8 at audifans.com
>Cc: Campozano, Robert
>Subject: New Serpentine Belt Goes Wild
>
>No, not a video of my Serpentine belt in Cancun...my brand new belt, one
>band/tooth of it just desintegrated.  I found most if it wrapped up on
>the main cooling fan!  Anyway, the majority of the belt is still in tact
>but obviously I should not drive on that belt to much (or maybe I should
>not drive at all, any suggestions?) but at the moment it is my only
>means of transportation.  Now, I was able to get the broken pieces
>unwound from the fan (courtesy of Ginsu, sorry, did not have other tools
>and I was very careful)...the question is, what could have caused it?
>Was it a faulty belt?  Anyway, thoughts and suggestions appreciated.  I
>will end up getting another belt this week.