My alternator belt snapped tonight on the way home from work. The mechanic I go to is about 30 minutes away. Is it possible to drive the car there or will I need to have it towed?

Also, what am I looking at to replace an alternator belt?

Oh, and no I am not going to do it myself; too busy. I would rather spend the time working. So doing it myself is not an option.

 

If you have a freshly charged battery, you should be fine for a while. But the battery will drain quickly if you need to use your lights.

 

alternator is only used to charge your battery, battery only used to start the car, but then the alternator is used to provide power to the car... now im confused...

 

The electrical system is a 'closed loop' system which in essence recirculates the electrical current. With out one key element, the system would only be temperary. It is the alternators job to generate 12V power to keep and hold a charge in the battery as long as possible.

The battery is what powers everything. Positive 12V current goes out. What is not used is grounded into the chasis. It is grounded into the chasis to keep the battery from over charging.

Maybe I'm not explaining this as best I can, but it makes complete sense to me.

If your battery is fully charged, you should be able to make it. Do it during the day and keep as many electrical systems off as you can (A/C..radio...head lights...).

Belts are under $20.00 at NAPA and what not.

 

keep the RPMs low as well, no radio, no nothing

 

Go get a belt and do it yourself.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Go get a belt and do it yourself.....</TD></TR></TABLE>



Hell yeah, you can do it before work in the morning. It's really that easy.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nholmes &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">



Hell yeah, you can do it before work in the morning. It's really that easy.</TD></TR></TABLE>

X2

-has had to do it in the gas station parking lot before... without any lights.

 

it's really a 10 minute job dude, no one is far to busy for that

 

I need other work done anyways, so it makes sense to just take it in and have it all done.

With a fully charged battery, how long could I drive (lights/radio off) ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I need other work done anyways, so it makes sense to just take it in and have it all done.

With a fully charged battery, how long could I drive (lights/radio off) ?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Try it and then report back how far ya got.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I need other work done anyways, so it makes sense to just take it in and have it all done.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

No it doesn't make any sense. Why risk being stranded on the side of the road and having to pay a tow truck to haul your car to a shop when you can just put on the belt yourself in like 5 minutes?

Loosen the pivot bolt and tensioner bolt, put on the belt, retighten, done.

 

But how do I know what tension to put in the belt? Don't I need a tensioner?

And can I just pick up the belt from AutoZone? Just get a basic one and what not?

Any special tools needed? I am going to attempt this, but I really could use some guidance....

 

I just go till I hear pop... then I repeat the belt installation process and tighten to just before it pops.


I'm sure someone here can answer this with an intelligent response... I'm unable.

 

No speacial tools are needed. Just use a pry bar or very large screw driver to apply pressure on the alternator until the belt is tight. Use the German method, Guudentite. It is a very simple job.

 

Okay, this does not seem as easy as all of you said.

I got the outer-most belt off no problem. Now I am trying to get the middle belt off, but I cannot loosen the screw type deal. I can't get a socket over it because the screw is too long. I tried getting a wrench down there, but I cannot get enough torque to turn the bolt around the screw.

What do I do?

 

You are going to have to loosen the tensioner for the A/C belt. You will also have to back off the adjustment bolt as well.

 

Yeah, I ended up getting it.

That belt is fuX0red too. so I am just going to stop and let a tow truck take it in to my mechanic in the morning.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, I ended up getting it.

That belt is fuX0red too. so I am just going to stop and let a tow truck take it in to my mechanic in the morning. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Whatever makes you happy

It is literally a five minute job.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by onyx00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah, I ended up getting it.

That belt is fuX0red too. so I am just going to stop and let a tow truck take it in to my mechanic in the morning. </TD></TR></TABLE>

It could be changed faster than the tow truck will get to you. If you dont know what your doing, Dont you have any friends that could help you out?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ITR#132 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It could be changed faster than the tow truck will get to you. If you dont know what your doing, Dont you have any friends that could help you out?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Seriously. Your making a $15.00 job into one that is several hundred.

 

How do you have the stuff listed done to your car, but can't change an alternator belt??

 

Another shot, for the hell of it.



EDIT: I'm in a good mood tonight, here is a shot of the alternator as well.

 

Just fix the damn thing and stop being a sissymary

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.Wrench &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just fix the damn thing and stop being a sissymary </TD></TR></TABLE>

I use the term sissylala