Serpertine Belt Wearing

[crazyspoon05]

Hi all

Strange problem I noticed today after hearing an odd noise from the engine bay driving home from work yesterday

Opened the bonnet and the serpertine belt has frayed along one side and it's the pulley in the middle of the engine that's doing the damage (belt had gone right back and was hitting against the two bolts just behind the pulley

So question one is what would cause the belt to do this ?

Question two is will the belt be likely to snap if I was to drive the car the 10 k or so round trip to the auto parts place and back to get a new belt ?

Thanks in advance

[immortality]

sounds like bearing in the tensioner pulley has failed and the pulley isn't running straight anymore which in turn has moved the belt against the bolts. you will need to replace the pulley and belt. it will prabably hold up for 10km but it's always a risk

[fazz1977]

What he said...

[crazyspoon05]

Thanks guys, I'll do that before work today or tomorrow (thankfully I've got my other car to drive around in while ones off the road)

[potshots007]

did you say it was the centre pulley? isnt that the water pump pulley?

[crazyspoon05]

Thanks Potshots, when I had the belt off I double checked the waterpump pulley and a lot of play there so obviously the water pump bearings are on their way out, probably saved me a lot more money

Cheers