Serpentine Belt Snapped

[numero9]

Edit: I mean the ALTERNATOR BELT not the serpentine belt, the other belts look okay.

So I was driving the other day and then a loud screech and bam, the alternator idiot lights went on and I had to coast to the side of the road.

The coolant overflow reservoir was bubbling over and got coolant all over the battery. A lot of smoke, too.

I got it towed to the local place but it isn't open til Monday, I'd really like to avoid the stupid labor costs and get it running by tomorrow night.

It was the belt that goes around the pulley for the alternator. I've heard this is a pretty easy fix, so I'm hoping I can work on it in the parking lot and get it going. Would that be a fair assumption?

What do I need to do?

[Flashmn]

Change the belt and add some coolant. Same belt spins the water pump, so thats why you were boiling.

[90 GP]

Loosen two bolts (locking bolt and the pivot bolt) to allow new belt installation. Before installing belt try spinning water pump and alternator by hand to make sure they spin and aren't bound up which could have caused old belt to fail.

[numero9]

I couldn't get to it before the mechanic. He said the water pump backed up and he'll have to do a whole timing belt/water pump replacement. That's going to cost nearly 500 and it's way above my skills. I can't tell if he's trying to rip me off though. The belt just snapped and I didn't keep it running. From reading past posts where alternator belts snapped, it seems like its common for the coolant to bubble over like mine did but not have to go through an entire timing belt/water pump replacement. Any insight?

[90 GP]

It's a good idea to replace timing belt and pump at same time rather than paying labor twice. Was water pump seized which resulted in alt belt breaking? I don't get connection on why alt belt broke unless for that reason. I would question what caused the alt belt to break. How old is timing belt? I would ask for all the old parts back if you get it repaired.

[numero9]

I don't think the timing belt has ever been replaced -- I got the car from a family member a few years ago. It's got about 160,000 miles on it. The alternator belt gave no major warning -- there was a slight squeal that often went away. With the radio on, it was barely noticeable -- not like what I'd expect to hear from a belt. Honestly, I thought it was just old and snapped because of that. The engine wasn't overheating or anything prior to that.

I only need the car for 2 months which is really making this hard. I'm trying to see how I can lessen the cost of this.

I was looking at getting the parts from RockAuto or Amazon; they seem to even around $60 total for everything (alt + wp belt, timing belt with tensioner, and water pump with gasket and o rings). I would get the parts in 2 days which is about the same time as what they were getting -- is this seem viable in saving money?

So I got it around $60 for the parts if I get them myself, it's about $110 if they get it. Then labor is $320.

[90 GP]

That's a good price for the parts. The biggest part of the repair bill is the labor portion. One engine mount needs removed and engine jacked from below to allow room to work so it's labor intensive. The other question is whether the repair shop would install parts you bought elsewhere. Alot won't. If that's the plan ask first before buying them.If you do it yourself hardest part would be removing pulley and then getting cams aligned properly when reinstalling new belt. If you are getting rid of it in two months and haven't put any other money in it would think you could sell it and recoup your expense.That's unless it's in rough shape otherwise.

[numero9]

It's in pretty good shape, no other major problems and well maintained. They'd let me use parts I got elsewhere but it would take a week to get them, so I just let them order it. Oh well!