Need help with this mechanical question

[cartwrna]

I own a 1994 Oldsmobile Regency 98 with 189,000 miles on it. Just today while driving it, it started making a horrible whining sound from the engine compartment. Upon popping the hood and listening I determined the noise was coming from the passenger side around the vicinity of the belts on the alternator and other parts. I drove it for about 15 miles after that when all of the sudden I lost power steering and the car started to overheat. Any ideas of what may have caused this terrible problem?

[Mickey#1]

You'd better take another look, sounds like the serpentine belt came off.

[cartwrna]

After taking a closer look it appears that the case or cover is off of the alternator and also the pulley appears to be not correct. I realize that the serpentine belt did come off that being the reasons for power steering loss and the car overheating due to the water pump not working but what would explain the alternator being off and the pulley? Could it be that the pulley was just bad causing the serpentine belt to come off and that possibly the serpentine belt coming off knocked the cover or case of the alternator off?? That sound realistic or like something that would happen?

[Mickey#1]

Can you post a picture of the alternator?

It sounds like a bearing on the alternator might have seized up. Turn all the other pulleys & see how they feel. If they all feel good (no binding or slop) then a new alt & belt should get you back on the road.

[usedranger]

The belt may have come off because of a defective tensioner. If the pulley wheel for the alternator moves the tensioner checked. When those get worn it makes the beltmove more to one side and slips off. The Autozone replacement is about $100.
Duralast / Belt Tensioner For your 1994 Oldsmobile 98 3.8L SFI OHV 6cyl

NEXT

[cartwrna]

I am at work now but I will get a picture of it later tonight and upload it on here for further feedback. I appreciate all the feedback everyone has given me already up to this point. Thank-you.

[cartwrna]

I had posted on here the other day about how I lost my power steering water pump alternator etc..well I found out it was the alternator due to the pulley being bad so the serpentine belt came off. Well today I had a ''friend'' help me change it. Upon getting it on he was trying to pry the serpentine belt on using a screw driver and I kept askin him why he wouldnt just use the belt tensioner..finally I told him to step aside and let me do it the right way so I used the tensioner and got the belt on with no problems. Upon starting the car I realized that for some reason there was antifreeze shooting out from under the hood..upon taking a look I realized it was coming from the radiator hose where it bolts into the motor right beside the alternator..well what happened is that my friend somehow broke the bolt of inside the motor on the end of the hose...how do I go about getting the end pieve unscrewed from the motor now??? The bolt broke of flush with the motor so there is no getting pliars or any other tool on to simply just unscrew it..are there any tools for specific reasons like this? I assume it will be easier than getting a the average bolt out do to this one is hollowed out..any ideas of a simple way to get this out and is it a easy and relatively low cost fix???? Any replies are greatly appreciated..just need to get the olds back on the highway!!