My car broke down 20 miles from home is it drivable without a serpentine belt
2006-09-29 18:48:32 · 12 answers · asked by danielbutts20022000 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
The only way that you can run your car (and it would be nice to know WHAT car we are talking about) is if you can avoid overheating the engine.
The serpentine belt is a wonder of the "build it cheaper" sensibilitiy. Whereas there used to be 2 or 3 belts that ran things like the water pump, the fan (which was usually the same pulley that ran the water pump), the power steering pump, the alternator (or generator in the older cars) and the air conditioning compressor, (phew) the auto companies and their engineers figured out a way to run all of those components with only one belt. They did this by aligning all of the pulleys. It saved them the cost and the maintenance incurred from the old 3-belt systems. Not much of a savings on the individual basis. It saved 2 belts. Whoopee!!!!!! But if you manufacture a gazillion cars it adds up.
Anyway, the only thing you MUST operate to run the engine long enough to get it home is the water pump. The "pantyhose repair" could work a.)if you know a girl who actually wears them and b.) if you get the tension "just right" over all of the pulleys. Without the temporary belt (eg. the panythose) the only other way to cool the engine is to figure out another way to cool it. For a short distance you should run the heater at full blast. The heat exchanger of the heater (like a radiator) will lower the temperature of the water in the cooling system although I'm not sure that it would be circulating without a water pump). It is also advised to remove the cap from the radiator during your trip home. This allows the coolant to expand naturally and overflow. You will have to refill the radiator once you get home.
The lesson here is to have the serpentine belt replaced BEFORE it breaks. It only costs about $100 to have a dealer do it and you will not ruin your engine or get stranded looking for a pair of pantyhose. BTW any stocking will do (even a fishnet one). If you are a frugal dude (like me) and don't believe in preventative maintenance there exists (somewhere, cuz I've seen them) temporary serpentine belts that you keep in your emergency repair kit in the trunk. I am betting that they work a whole lot better than the nylons.
Watch the temp gauge. If it starts to climb, stop the car.
That's all I've got. Good luck. (we've all been there)
2006-09-29 19:28:05 · answer #1 · answered by DANIEL R T 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Car Serpentine Belt
2016-11-07 08:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since a serpentine belt runs virtually everything including the water pump, you probablay can't drive more than a mile or so without risking overheating. Then let it cool down for an hour or so and try another mile.
A very few cars have water pumps driven from the end of the camshaft, including some Chrysler 4-cylinder engines and I believe the new 3.0 liter V-6 from Ford. If you've got one of those, you can probably make 20 miles with no problems, even at night with the headlights on.
2006-09-29 19:01:40 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Emergency Fan Belt
2016-12-29 14:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by montogomery 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you won't make it around the block. you should not drive with out serpentine belt. Even if you can observe the temperature gauge still not good because by the time the gauge showed it overheated. it is too late because the temp raising faster than the gauge can measure. The best way is to get it on the tow truck.
2006-09-29 19:17:57 · answer #5 · answered by Nick 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO A serpentine belt runs averthing . water pump so do not drive it 20 miles home. Have it towed and fix at home.
2006-09-29 18:54:01 · answer #6 · answered by canivieu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
again till it over heats, but here is a little trick I learned a long time ago.
Get a pair of panty hose and tie it from the crank to the water pump.
You can drive for a while without power stearing
You can drive with out the alt.
But if you drive without a belt on the water pump it will runen the engone
2006-09-29 18:56:34 · answer #7 · answered by goldwing127959 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is questionable, it run your water pump, your battery should be fine without the head lights on. Keep a eye on your engine temperature if it gets above 220 degrees stop and let it cool back down and then go again.
2006-09-29 18:51:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
not really your car will not pump coolant and will over heat you could end up blowing it up. cheaper in long run to get it towed and belts are easy to put on. you can drive it but don't
2006-09-29 18:58:09 · answer #9 · answered by <B> 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just till your motor overheats and locks up
why risk it, just catch a ride and get a new belt, they go on easy.
2006-09-29 18:52:08 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋