2006-12-08 20:55:26 · 4 answers · asked by philip 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Make sure that the power steering is the only thing that was running off that belt. If for instance the alternator was also running off it, the car will run for a time on battery power but will soon die. Also some vehicles run the water pump from a belt, without this your car will overheat rapidly and the engine will be cooked. If you don't know I would suggest not driving it until it is checked by a mechanic and or fixed. Belts are cheap so why not just have it right.
2006-12-08 21:06:43 · answer #1 · answered by togetheradecade 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The amount of effort required to turn the wheel once the Ps Pump is out of the loop is far greater than with it connected. That can absolutely be a safety issue if you can't turn fast enough to avoid that wall or that semi truck in front of you!!!!!!!!!!
Depending on the type of car and engine, this same belt may also drive your alternator, which means your running solely off the battery. If you plan to drive it like this plan to;
A. Get stuck at some point with a dead battery
B. Buy a new battery
Also depending on year/make/model this belt may drive the Water Pump that cools your engine. Without that you will overheat the engine, perhaps blowing the head gasket and maybe even warping the heads to boot!
So, you can replace the $30 belt and have a safe car with no additional repairs required or you can be a cheapskate idiot and like most people of that mindset end up paying a lot more later. Sorry to be so blunt but it is what it is.
Your choice.
2006-12-09 01:34:28 · answer #2 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
SAFE ONLY IF THE BELT ONLY DRIVES THE POWER STEERING. SAFE IF YOU HAVE MUSCLE TO FIGHT THE WHEEL!! SOME MODELS HAVE ONE BELT DRIVING EVERYTHING! WELL, MAINLY, YOU MUST HAVE A BELT DRIVING YOUR WATER PUMP OR YOU WILL DESTROY THE ENGINE BY OVERHEATING. IF THE BELT ALSO **SOLELY** OPERATES THE ALTERNATOR, YOU WILL RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. WARNING LIGHTS (OLD SCHOOL "IDIOT LIGHTS")!! SHOULD COME ON FOR THE NON-DRIVEN ALTERNATOR. IF SO FOR TEMPERATURE, ****SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY****. IF YOU ARE BLESSED WITH GUAGES, WATCH THEM. SOMETIMES A BELT WILL PEEL OFF ANOTHER OR ALL THE OTHER BELTS, TOO; SOMETHING ELSE TO WATCH FOR.
2006-12-08 21:59:04 · answer #3 · answered by New Russian 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes: the belt is only for the power steering, but it will still work without it (they're designed that way as a safety feature)
2006-12-08 21:00:17 · answer #4 · answered by screaminhangover 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should check to see if that belt also work the water pump because if it does then you could problems to your engine.
2006-12-08 21:41:41 · answer #5 · answered by Frankeds 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋