Lude Generation

Driving down the A1 and my belt has snapped. It's the one on the inside going to the engine from the alternator.
Pulled over about 200 yards down the road. I was doing 70mph. Is it properly f**ked?

no dont think so bud - should be just replace belt and off you go
you might want to check the lower pulley to ensure its still ok and check it for any wobbles etc once youve fitted the new belt.
belt should cost you around £10-£15

If it's the belt that runs off the bottom pulley to the alternator, nothing's drokked, just replace it (or get a garage to do it).

You can drive the car like that too, just not very far because you're not charging the battery so it'll go flat really quickly and then the engine will cut. The battery light will stay on for the same reason.

Check the pulleys look ok (no chunks out or big dents) and check that the bottom pulley (on the end of the crankshaft) doesn't have a massive wobble on it before you replace it.

its only the one under the plastic cover you should really worry about buddy but if the alternator belt has gone i would check the condition of the cam belt this is a warning

wurlycorner wrote:just replace it (or get a garage to do it).

This ^^^

Yeah thanks guys!! Major relief. AA came in 15 minutes and told me the same. Took it to my local garage to get the power steering and alternator belts ordered. They are arriving tomorrow around mid day. My voltage meter light is on so I know the battery will die soon but ill just jump start it that's fine.

So happy it's just that! Love you all!

You might be able to jump start it, but if it's flat, as soon as you take the jump leads off it will die again because there's no alternator charging the battery.
You'll need to put the battery on charge overnight to give you enough charge to drive it there.

My dad has lent me a trickle charger, which looks about 50 years old but hopefully it will do the job!
I'm going to do the belts with my mate again like last time just try and give it a bit of slack this time and see if there is any wobble in the pully before I put it on.

Look at the crank pulley with the enine running to see if there's any wobble in it (don't go near/touch it though!). The alternator pully you can rotate by hand to look for damage and feel the bearing.

I hate doing the alternator belt on these engines, just can't seem to get on with the adjuster.

When I did it 3 months ago it was fine, no squeaks and got it feeling alright first time. But then it's snapped 3 months later? Might just losen it a little and get a better quality belt. Might do the trick my mate said he never changed his for 9 years and it was absolutely fine. Pot luck I suppose. I'm just glad it didnt wreck the engine because I'm not really that technical