A car drive belt, also called a serpentine belt, is one of the unsung heroes when it comes to car parts. This rubber belt is responsible for keeping the engine running smoothly while delivering power by turning the air conditioner, power steering, alternator, and cooling system simultaneously. So, what happens if it breaks?
When a car drive belt breaks, it can spell disaster. First, it will cause your power steering to fail, which is especially dangerous if you're in the middle of a turn. Plus, the alternator will stop working, which could jeopardize your electrical and electronic systems. Lastly, your engine will overheat within minutes as the water pump fails.
In this article, we’re going to explore what happens when your drive belt breaks. By the time you finish reading, you’ll understand why it’s critical to keep your drive belt in good shape.
Let’s get started.
Quick Recap: What’s a Drive Belt and Why Does It Matter?
A drive belt, sometimes called fan belt or serpentine belt, is a rubber strap that runs outside your engine. Tensioners and pulleys ensure that the belt moves smoothly to transfer energy by turning other car parts like the water pump, alternator (to recharge the car battery), power steering, and more.
Since the drive belt is made of rubber, it will also break down from damage caused by exposure to automotive fluids and the elements besides regular wear and tear. Due to the fact that it's connected to so many critical car parts and systems, damage in the drive belt could mean disaster for your car, rendering it immobile.
For a more in-depth explanation of drive belts, please check out our previous article here.
What Would Cause the Serpentine Belt to Break?
At this point, we understand that the serpentine belt can and will wear out and break. Plus, you will not be able to drive your car when it does. But what causes the belt to break in the first place?
Here are the reasons your serpentine belt will break:
Wear and tear will affect the drive belt
Like any other part of your car, the serpentine belt will suffer from regular wear and tear. That should come as no surprise when you think about how the belt constantly moves between pulleys, idlers, and tensioners, and how it’s continually turning multiple other car parts.
Plus, all that heat from being right next to the engine speeds up that wear and tear as well.
Exposure to fluids will weaken the rubber belt
Automotive fluids can also be very damaging to your serpentine belt. To be more specific, fluids like oil, power steering fluid, engine coolant, and anything else that’s petroleum-based will damage the rubber material of the belt.
Misaligned pulley can damage serpentine belts
Remember: the belt travels through a system of pulleys. Those pulleys must be perfectly aligned to ensure that everything moves smoothly. Unfortunately, a misaligned pulley could also lead to a damaged serpentine belt which could eventually break.
What Happens If a Belt Breaks While You're Driving?
Your drive belt will only break while the engine is turned on. Unfortunately, that means there’s a good chance it’ll break while you’re driving on the road.
So, what happens if a belt breaks while you're driving? Three of the most critical problems you'll face are losing steering power, engine overheating, and failure of your electrical and electronic systems.
Loss of Steering Power
Your drive belt connects to the power steering system. If it breaks, you'll suddenly find turning the steering wheel very difficult. While that might not seem like a big deal to some people, bear in mind that it can be very dangerous if it happens while you're making a turn.
The sudden loss of power could be distracting and cause a car accident.
Engine Overheating
The drive belt also connects to the water pump, which helps to keep your engine cool. Once the belt breaks, you'll have only a matter of minutes before the engine overheats, forcing you to pull over. If you keep driving, it could lead to catastrophic engine damage.
Electrical and Electronic Systems Failure
The alternator gets its power from the drive belt as well. Without the belt there to turn it, the alternator can't charge the battery and provide power to anything electrical or electronic in the car. In this day and age, where newer car models rely heavily on electrical systems, it will be a major problem.
Can I Continue Driving My Car If the Serpentine Belt Is Broken?
Technically, yes, you can continue driving your car, but not for long.
For instance, without power steering, you’re likely to get exhausted very quickly from driving. Still, that’s not the worst part. Without a functioning belt, the water pump can’t cool the engine. So, your engine will overheat very quickly.
Besides that, as mentioned earlier, the electrical and electronic systems will also go without power.
So, if your serpentine belt breaks while you're driving, you should only keep going long enough to pull over to the side of the road safely. Once there, you must shut your car off entirely to prevent any further damage.
How Long Can I Drive Without a Serpentine Belt?
Again, it’s a horrible idea to keep driving if your serpentine belt is broken. However, if you’ve decided to keep going for whatever reason, your car could only keep going for a few minutes at most.
Among all the problems resulting from a broken serpentine belt, the most critical is the overheating engine. That can cause some severe damage if you let it go on for too long.
So, as mentioned before, if your drive belt ever breaks while you’re driving, you must pull over safely and shut the engine off immediately. Doing so will save you from spending money on repair, or worse, getting a brand new engine.
Hope That Was Useful! Learn More!
To learn more about car drive belt and other essential car parts, check out Carpart.com.au. You can shop for a new serpentine belt or search car parts, or read helpful articles about keeping your car in good shape.
By Ray Hasbollah