Driving without a serpentine belt.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 1:02 am

So my serpentine belt decided to come off during my drive home from a friend's house tonight. I made it home alright, after fighting the wheel the whole way. But my question is, how far can I drive without the belt? Should I be able to make it to the shop I go to that's about 7 miles away, or should I just have it towed?

INVUJerry · Post by **INVUJerry** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 5:26 am

Was it just the ps/ac belt? If so you should be fine. Even if the alt belt came off if your batter is good you should make it.

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:28 am

Ya, sounds like the power steering and a/c belt if you were "fighting" the steering wheel.

Why not install the belt yourself? It's very easy... Probably save yourself money.

r/tguy02 · Post by **r/tguy02** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:35 am

I agree with Andrew, if you've got a 17mm open end wrench it's easy

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 9:20 am

I still have the belt, it didn't break or anything, it just came off. I'll give it a shot when I get home from work today.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 1:52 pm

Yeah they're right, there is no serpentine belt on a Neon. Just the two belts, and it sounds like the alternator belt is still on. Pop the hood and take a look.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:06 pm

If you really do need to get it to the shop, you can literally drive as long as your battery will let you. Since the water pump is driven off the timing belt, you don't actually need any of your accessories to drive the car. The 2.4 is the same way (I know, I've had to do it).

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:26 pm

Well, I had a hell of a time getting the belt on, but I got it. and it was flung right off again when I started the car. I'm going to take it in in the morning and see what's going on with it.

gcretro · Post by **gcretro** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:49 pm

GreeNeons03 wrote:Well, I had a hell of a time getting the belt on, but I got it. and it was flung right off again when I started the car. I'm going to take it in in the morning and see what's going on with it.

Mee too, when i tried first time

. Then figured you have to hold the tensioner pushed when snaking the belt along. FYI ebay had good year gatorbacks for 6 bcuks shipped.

2005.Neon.SXT · Post by **2005.Neon.SXT** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 8:48 pm

Flung right off again? Is the tension right? I know it's an auto tensioner (the thing you put the 17mm open end on), but.. That's new to me. I don't want to insult your intelligence, but 1) was it changed before? Is it the right one (size)? And 2) did you make sure it was seated on each pulley before starting the car?

Post by **jonnymopar** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 12:19 pm

Does the black plastic pulley on the tensioner have any play in it? With the belt off, see if it spins freely and doesn't have a bearing issue.

Also, see if the bolt through the middle of the crank pulley loosened up on you.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 6:23 pm

Turns out it was the tensioner. They replaced it for me at the shop. From the sound of it, I don't think I would have been able to fix it myself.

Post by **jonnymopar** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 9:45 pm

More than half the steps required to replace the timing belt are required to replace just the accessory tensioner. It's not a small job.

Glad to hear that the car is back in business.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:13 pm

Yep, if the pivot on the tensioner is worn enough, it will let the whole arm go out of alignment. Or like Jon said, the pulley can seize, or the bearing gets enough slop in it to let the belt walk off.

If you are lucky they will develop the "crickets chirping" noise as the belt begins to start walking, but not bad enough to slide off. I think that is more of a steel idler pulley symptom tho.

GreeNeons03 · Post by **GreeNeons03** » Sun Mar 17, 2013 12:40 am

occasional demons wrote:If you are lucky they will develop the "crickets chirping" noise as the belt begins to start walking, but not bad enough to slide off. I think that is more of a steel idler pulley symptom tho.

Yeah I had that for a couple of days, but the belt came off before I had a chance to bring it in.