Burnt and broken serpentine belt

[Dorota]

I have a 99 Ford Econoline. Started the car smelled rubber burning and saw some smoke. Turned off engine and then the serpentine belt broke. Is it true to hand turn all the pulleys to see which one is broken? Would it be an idler or an accessory pulley as the culprit.

 

[Raizinman]

Yes, you are right on it. Obviously with the engine off: Try and turn each pulley until you find the one which is difficult. Most likely it will be the water pump. What engine do you have in this? How many miles do you have on this engine and when was the last cooling system maintenance done? Yes, it could be an idler pulley.

 

[Dorota]

The van has over 200k miles on it. Hasn’t been driven in quite awhile. Can’t tell you when the cooling system was done last. Thanks for confirming checking the pulleys by hand. I don’t want to spend tons of money as this van is just falling apart rust etc but depending on which pulley possibly fix it to get another year out of it as it’s only used for transport a handful of times a year.

 

[boomerang]

Be aware that you're not going to be able to turn the pulley at the very bottom. That's attached to the crankshaft and you're not going to be able to turn the engine over by hand. You can rule that one out as being the culprit.

 

[mindless1]

It's worth it to fix it (yourself) just so you don't have to tow it, saving that expense. If it's the A/C compressor and you want to ditch the vehicle then I'd look into a shorter belt that bypasses the compressor. Running without A/C is worth a lot more than not running.

 

[Dorota]

Turns out it’s the alternator! I convinced my husband to fix it himself and I will have to monitor his every move!!!! Lol! Thank you for your help!!!

 

[boomerang]

Turns out it’s the alternator! I convinced my husband to fix it himself and I will have to monitor his every move!!!! Lol! Thank you for your help!!!

Make sure the battery is disconnected before removing any wires going to the alternator. The current is high enough to throw sparks and make a wrench glow and can really ruin a person's day. Just disconnect the battery and there are no worries.

 

[Midwayman]

Make sure the battery is disconnected before removing any wires going to the alternator. The current is high enough to throw sparks and make a wrench glow and can really ruin a person's day. Just disconnect the battery and there are no worries.

I spot welded a wrench to my car's frame once.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I spot welded a wrench to my car's frame once.

Awesome. Pics?

 

[Midwayman]

Awesome. Pics?

It was years ago. I still have the wrench, but its just a rough spot in the chrome now.

 

[Dorota]

Make sure the battery is disconnected before removing any wires going to the alternator. The current is high enough to throw sparks and make a wrench glow and can really ruin a person's day. Just disconnect the battery and there are no worries.

Make sure the battery is disconnected before removing any wires going to the alternator. The current is high enough to throw sparks and make a wrench glow and can really ruin a person's day. Just disconnect the battery and there are no worries.

I definitely will let him know. Don’t want to ruin my wrench!!! thank you!!!

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I definitely will let him know. Don’t want to ruin my wrench!!! thank you!!!

...or electrocute your husband?

 

[DaTT]

I definitely will let him know. Don’t want to ruin my wrench!!! thank you!!!

"Ruin my wrench".....lol