Alternator/Fan Belt. Advice Needed

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:17 pm

Checking Freda over today and spotted that the rearmost of the two alternator/fan belts had broken up, leaving just the front one in place.

Think this probably happened the week before last when my other half was driving. She told me about a strange noise which lasted a few minutes and then went away but I never thought any more about it.

Can anyone tell me why there are two seemingly identical belts here. Do they serve different purposes or is one just a backup to the other ?

We were due to use Freda tomrrow, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea in the circumstances. If the one remaining belt happened to go then what would the symptoms be ? Would a warning light come on straight away if the second belt failed ?

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 6:46 pm

Both belts do the same job, I wouldn't go far with only one. The alternator is quite a high output one so really needs both belts

Maurice · Post by **Maurice** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:29 pm

Thanks Haydn for the quick reply. Have a 60 mile round trip planned for tomorrow that would be very inconvenient without the Freda. I reckon it must have covered 500 miles since the first belt broke up so surely the second belt will last another 60 miles ???

I'm assuming that if this belt broke, the alternator would stop charging and a warning light would come on, giving me time to pull over before any damage is done, and call the RAC for a tow home.

haydn callow · Post by **haydn callow** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 7:41 pm

Personally I would not risk it. Those 2 belts also drive your water pump.
You may well get away with it, but that's up to you