lost my lower belt "help"

[rbmazda3]

So I was driving down the road today and my car started smoking so I pulled over. After the smoked cleared...thankfully no flames...i pulled the lower belt out from on top of my skid plate.

What does this lower belt drive? Must be the air conditioning becuase I have no indicators on the dash. Pump must have froze and and caused the belt to drag and fry!

 

[tsunami]

you sure it was the lower belt? or just assuming b/c it was on the skid plate? if you have no idiot lights i would think its the a/c belt you did look and make sure your alternator belt is still there though?

 

[rbmazda3]

you sure it was the lower belt? or just assuming b/c it was on the skid plate? if you have no idiot lights i would think its the a/c belt you did look and make sure your alternator belt is still there though?

Yes I'm sure. It's pretty short. Here are some pictures. Both of the size and actual numbers off the belt.

My dealership is 30 miles aways so I need to no if it's okay to drive up there.

 

[tsunami]

wow that is a small belt... i am sure once goldwing or or mabye mazda3zoom sees it they will know where it goes.. may try pm'ing them with a link to this thread....??

my personal opinion (for what its worth) i would say you can drive to the dealership b/c for whatever reason the belt broke (prob seized bearing or catastrophic pulley failure) the part it was supposed to turn isn't turning anymore, and i am 90% sure that it wasn't your alt belt and even if it was you could still prob make 30 miles on battery alone.... but like i said thats just my opinion....

 

[rbmazda3]

I'm guessing it's to the A/C pump. The pump probably froze and caused the belt to slip on the crank pully until failure. I just droze it 10 miles and actually raced a guy light to light and all seems fine.

Where is goldwing when you need him! (direct)

 

[goldwing2000]

(hi)


Yep, it's the a/c belt. And yep, it's no problem to drive without it. Definitely sounds like the compressor locked up.

If it was the main sepentine belt, you would have lost your alternator and your water pump. The car would have overheated long before the battery died. You would definitely have noticed.

 

[rbmazda3]

Thanks buddy. That's what I figured. The dealership told me not to drive it and call roadside assistance. Problem is I need my car for the remainder of the weekend.

Anyone ever have their A/C compressor sieze up? I've got 36k on my car and have never heard of this particular failure. Matter of fact, I haven't had a breakdown in the last 18 years of owning new cars.

 

[memo79]

Thanks buddy. That's what I figured. The dealership told me not to drive it and call roadside assistance. Problem is I need my car for the remainder of the weekend.

Anyone ever have their A/C compressor sieze up? I've got 36k on my car and have never heard of this particular failure. Matter of fact, I haven't had a breakdown in the last 18 years of owning new cars.

Well then I'd say just call roadside assistance. It'd more than likely be a warranty covered thing, so ask you dealership for a loaner. That IS part of the warranty.

 

[goldwing2000]

There's no need to call roadside assistance for an a/c belt. Just drive it in and have them fix it. If the compressor is already locked up, nothing worse could possibly happen from driving it. In fact, your gas mileage just might go up. (thumb)

 

[rbmazda3]

There's no need to call roadside assistance for an a/c belt. Just drive it in and have them fix it. If the compressor is already locked up, nothing worse could possibly happen from driving it. In fact, your gas mileage just might go up. (thumb)

I was thinking wheel hp too! (cabpatch)