Urgent! Car died while out of town!

[oldskool3]

Hi gents,

A week ago i noticed a high pitched whine/ burning smell coming from the engine bay and after bringing it to the shop, my mechanic told me it was only the power steering pump and that it wasn't an immediate concern. With that news I decided to take the car on a two hour road trip for work. While the car arrived with no issue, after going out for dinner tonight, when trying to get home the lights were really dim and the battery light came on and eventually the car died. I have parked it in a public spot for the night but I have to deal with it in the morning and I'm not sure what to do. If it's just the power steering pump draining the battery I was thinking I could just cut the belt and drive it home but I'm not sure that's the problem. Does anyone have any thoughts!? I am hoping to make it home for thanksgiving this weekend and will take any advice! It seemed fine on the way to dinner and I'm not sure what else could have cause the battery to die. I really appreciate any help. Thanks

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Start the car and get under the hood. See if that belt is binding...and look at it (before you start the car) to see if there is wear on it. Yes, you could cut it, but I would check your other belt too (alternator, water pump). Maybe there's an issue there, which means your alternator isn't charging the battery properly, leading to your current situation.

 

[oldskool3]

Thanks for the suggestion i'll definitely check that out. I was thinking this morning that the pulley on the PS pump may have seized preventing my other belt from spinning freely which would not allow the alternator to charge the battery. If that's the case, I hope nothing else would was damaged from driving it.

 

[BRIAN_MP5T]

You can drive forever with the PS Belt Off..

You can't drive for more than 1 Minute with the Alternator belt missing.. (Overheat the motor and Kill It)

Make sure that the Alternator belt is there and that it is not slipping..

 

[oldskool3]

Will do. I'm planning on cutting the PS/AC belt, checking the alternator belt for slippage, jump starting the car, hoping I can make it the two hour drive home!

 

[spizzak]

This just happened to me : http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123821719-Winding-Whirring-Sound-Burning-Smell