altima serp. belt problem

[timbits]

Serp. belt shredded and ? a/c fluid poured all over driveway...Is this commen(fluid pour I mean)Can i just replace belt and have a/c checked TY TB

[JustSayGo]

The first problem to solve is to determine why the belt shredded. It is most common that something causes a belt to shred. Did it shred on the road before you parked, or was the car idleing in the driveway for an extended period of time with the A/C on? What kind of car is it? More than likely antifreeze from the cooling system poured onto the driveway rather than refrigerent oil from the A/C system. Check to see if the waterpump turns freely and smooth. Does the waterpump pulley wobble when you grab ahold and try to move it from side to side? Do the same for the alternator and idler pulleys. Any of them could have stopped turning and caused the belt to shred. Visually inspect the accessory drive belt. Is it still on the A/C compressor, in good condition and adjustment? Where did the coolant leak from? The overflow bottle, waterpump, or some where else? Use a water hose to wash any antifreeze off of the pulleys, engine, and remaining belt(s) before installing a new belt. Since the engine cooling system and the A/C system are two seprate systems, your A/C system should be in the same condition it was prior to the belt shredding.

[timbits]

Originally Posted by JustSayGo

The first problem to solve is to determine why the belt shredded. It is most common that something causes a belt to shred. Did it shred on the road before you parked, or was the car idleing in the driveway for an extended period of time with the A/C on? What kind of car is it? More than likely antifreeze from the cooling system poured onto the driveway rather than refrigerent oil from the A/C system. Check to see if the waterpump turns freely and smooth. Does the waterpump pulley wobble when you grab ahold and try to move it from side to side? Do the same for the alternator and idler pulleys. Any of them could have stopped turning and caused the belt to shred. Visually inspect the accessory drive belt. Is it still on the A/C compressor, in good condition and adjustment? Where did the coolant leak from? The overflow bottle, waterpump, or some where else? Use a water hose to wash any antifreeze off of the pulleys, engine, and remaining belt(s) before installing a new belt. Since the engine cooling system and the A/C system are two seprate systems, your A/C system should be in the same condition it was prior to the belt shredding.

An Addit,I was driving the car when belt shredded...ty TB

[timbits]

The problem was that the waterpump froze and snapped the serp belt...only 90000km,and dealer is giving me strife because I didn't do servicing at Nissan....any suggestions? ty TB

[JustSayGo]

Give some thought to the whole situation and learn by your experience. Take a few seconds to inspect the waterpump for leaking when you are checking fluid levels. The waterpump seal may have been leaking for months prior to locking up. Coolant leaks past the seal and eventually washes the special grease out of the waterpump bearings until they lock up. More than likely the belt was too tight and caused the seal to leak in the first place. Dealers charge $75 to perform the inspection described in the earlier post when you choose not to have them complete the repair. Why take it to the dealer now?

[timbits]

Originally Posted by JustSayGo

Give some thought to the whole situation and learn by your experience. Take a few seconds to inspect the waterpump for leaking when you are checking fluid levels. The waterpump seal may have been leaking for months prior to locking up. Coolant leaks past the seal and eventually washes the special grease out of the waterpump bearings until they lock up. More than likely the belt was too tight and caused the seal to leak in the first place. Dealers charge $75 to perform the inspection described in the earlier post when you choose not to have them complete the repair. Why take it to the dealer now?

There was no leaking around pump....anyways,Nissan honoured the warranty and all is well....SS