Plastic Part That Runs The Serpentine Belt On A 1999 Chevy Malibu

[MalibuSue]

I am trying to find out if there is any recourse for such a flimsy part that is plastic, and when it goes, it can take out your engine. I am on a second engine and am scared to death of this vehicle after it went out on a turnpike while I was travelling at 75 MPH with three children on a triple digit heat day. I cannot afford to replace the car, but it has been a nightmare since I bought. Check engine light came on today. I don't understand why there has not been a recall for this part.

 

[twinrider1]

Just curious....what brought you to a computer tech site to ask the question? Sure there is a garage subforum, but I'd think a dedicated Chevrolet forum would be the place to go.

As far as recourse...which engine and what year is it (guessing it's not from the year 199).

What country are you in?

If America, what makes you wait so long to ask? (Given that it's been a number of months since any spot in America had triple digit temps.

There hasn't been a recall because not enough folks reported a problem to make it statistically significant. Did you report your situation?

Once you've replied with your vehicle specifics, we may be of more help.

 

[MalibuSue]

I am sorry. I thought I was in the Garage. I am new here and I found it on a search for Chevy Malibu problems. I can't believe that I missed the error. It is a 1999 Chevy Malibu V6.

I am in the USA, in Kansas.

To be honest, what took me so long to ask, is that I felt I had no recourse and I just have a feeling that part is getting ready to go again. Going out to take my child to school this morning, it sounding odd and the check engine light was on, and that prompted me to do a search to see if anyone else has had or heard of this problem. I still have the piece that went in my trunk for reference.

 

[Jimzz]

Are you talking about a idler pulley? got any pictures?

 

[MalibuSue]

I can take a picture of it.

 

[MalibuSue]

I took a picture, but I cannot figure out how to post it.

 

[MalibuSue]

Not sure if this will work to get to the picture of the part.

 

[twinrider1]

This is an idler pulley. The wheel may be smooth like this one, or might be grooved.

This is a tensioner. Basically the same thing, but spring loaded to keep the belt tight automatically.

When one goes bad, you're engine doesn't automatically die. But the belt is there to turn other parts, such as the alternator (electricity), water pump (cooling), power steering (makes steering wheel easy to turn), and a compressor (air conditioning). So if the belt becomes loose, some or all of those other parts may not be working as they should.
If you're really talking about the serpentine belt and not a timing chain, I can only guess the loose belt caused the water pump to under spin, allowing the engine to overheat. But that's just a guess based on the info so far.

A 3.1 v6

 

[MalibuSue]

Well that did not work.

 

[MalibuSue]

This is an idler pulley. The wheel may be smooth like this one, or might be grooved.

This is a tensioner. Basically the same thing, but spring loaded to keep the belt tight automatically.

When one goes bad, you're engine doesn't automatically die. But the belt is there to turn other parts, such as the alternator (electricity), water pump (cooling), power steering (makes steering wheel easy to turn), and a compressor (air conditioning). So if the belt becomes loose, some or all of those other parts may not be working as they should.
If you're really talking about the serpentine belt and not a timing chain, I can only guess the loose belt caused the water pump to under spin, allowing the engine to overheat. But that's just a guess based on the info so far.

A 3.1 v6

Yes, I think that might be it. I wish I could post the picture of the actual part. I was doing 75 MPH when it went, and by the time I was able to get it over to the side of the turnpike, it overheated and the engine was shot.

 

[slag]

I think the 1999 malibu LS has the 3.1 liter V6 which uses a timing chain I believe so I don't think she is talking about that. I just saw twinrider posted the engine, yep, a 3.1. The belt is all i can think of that is being talked about but its not plastic, it's rubber.

I see she replied that its the pully. After the pulley goes, the power steering goes as well and the check engine light comes on because the alternator isn't charging the battery. It shouldn't overheat the engine in that short amount of time it takes to pull over to the shoulder.

 

[MalibuSue]

I think the 1999 malibu LS has the 3.1 liter V6 which uses a timing chain I believe so I don't think she is talking about that. I just saw twinrider posted the engine, yep, a 3.1. The belt is all i can think of that is being talked about but its not plastic, it's rubber.

I see she replied that its the pully. After the pulley goes, the power steering goes as well and the check engine light comes on because the alternator isn't charging the battery. It shouldn't overheat the engine in that short amount of time it takes to pull over to the shoulder.

Yes Slag, that is what I have. Not the belt, the part that it turns on is plastic. It looks like it melted, seized and threw the belt. I really wish I could post the actual picture of the part and you can see how deformed it is now.

 

[MalibuSue]

This is an idler pulley. The wheel may be smooth like this one, or might be grooved.

This is a tensioner. Basically the same thing, but spring loaded to keep the belt tight automatically.

When one goes bad, you're engine doesn't automatically die. But the belt is there to turn other parts, such as the alternator (electricity), water pump (cooling), power steering (makes steering wheel easy to turn), and a compressor (air conditioning). So if the belt becomes loose, some or all of those other parts may not be working as they should.
If you're really talking about the serpentine belt and not a timing chain, I can only guess the loose belt caused the water pump to under spin, allowing the engine to overheat. But that's just a guess based on the info so far.

A 3.1 v6

Yes, that part at the very bottom on the left right out front. On mine, the two are connected and it was the front pulley is it, or tensioner that went.

My mistake. I see now that part is in the back. I have been watching the wrong part all along. Thank you for your help.

 

[MalibuSue]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53049395.1073741889.1177257960&type=1&theater


I just tried it, and this takes you right to the photo I just took of the part.

 

[MalibuSue]

Yes Slag, that is what I have. Not the belt, the part that it turns on is plastic. It looks like it melted, seized and threw the belt. I really wish I could post the actual picture of the part and you can see how deformed it is now.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53049395.1073741889.1177257960&type=1&theater

This takes you right to a picture I just took of the actual part.

 

[danzigrules]

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[MalibuSue]

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Sorry. I just changed the setting for that picture so that it is public, so you should be able to see it now.

 

[crashtech]

Most vehicles have a serpentine belt running the water pump and alternator amongst other things. Although on the highway it can be difficult to tell your power steering has failed, if your instruments are working correctly, you should immediately see a low voltage warning, which usually takes the form of a red light with a block drawing of a car battery within it. Basically you need to keep a sharp eye on your instruments, and pull over quickly if this problem seems to occur in the future. Quick action is what will save your engine.

 

[MalibuSue]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...53049395.1073741889.1177257960&type=1&theater

Should work now. I had to change the privacy settings for it to public.

 

[MalibuSue]

Most vehicles have a serpentine belt running the water pump and alternator amongst other things. Although on the highway it can be difficult to tell your power steering has failed, if your instruments are working correctly, you should immediately see a low voltage warning, which usually takes the form of a red light with a block drawing of a car battery within it. Basically you need to keep a sharp eye on your instruments, and pull over quickly if this problem seems to occur in the future. Quick action is what will save your engine.

Yes Crash. Thank you. I know that now, but this car did not give much warning. I don't think that it has some of the features you mentioned. I did notice the tachometer was bouncing back and forth, the car was slowing and speeding up. I was not in the far right lane. While trying to get it over, which was hard with the power steering not working properly, the red light came on for the temp gauge. I have not taken the car on a highway since.

 

[Bubbleawsome]

Also, for future reference you can go to imgur.com and upload an image without an account. It will give you a URL in the form of an i.imgur.com/(something) link and then you can copy paste that into the box that comes up when you click the little picture above the box where you put the post.

 

[crashtech]

It's an awfully hard way to learn about cars when something happens like this. In certain situations I could see how even an alert driver that knows what the problem is could end up with a seized engine. But it's also possible some signs were there and you didn't know they were significant. You do need to know that this is a possible problem that is by no means limited to your Malibu, this exact same problem can happen to most cars, and you have to know what to look for and react quickly. Your mechanic can help you become familiar with your car's instrumentation and also determine if you have any burned out warning bulbs or a partially faulty display that may not have properly warned you about the problem.

 

[MalibuSue]

Also, for future reference you can go to imgur.com and upload an image without an account. It will give you a URL in the form of an i.imgur.com/(something) link and then you can copy paste that into the box that comes up when you click the little picture above the box where you put the post.

Thank you for the info Bubble. I will know for next time.

 

[MalibuSue]

It's an awfully hard way to learn about cars when something happens like this. In certain situations I could see how even an alert driver that knows what the problem is could end up with a seized engine. But it's also possible some signs were there and you didn't know they were significant. You do need to know that this is a possible problem that is by no means limited to your Malibu, this exact same problem can happen to most cars, and you have to know what to look for and react quickly. Your mechanic can help you become familiar with your car's instrumentation and also determine if you have any burned out warning bulbs or a partially faulty display that may not have properly warned you about the problem.

Yes, Crash it is. I only had the car for 3 months when this happened. I was taking two of my grandchildren to their Mom. I told her something did not sound right and I really did not even want to go that far until I could have it checked out. I am still kicking myself for selling my 1995 Ford Contour that really did not need much more work done. I had owned it for 12 years and knew immediately when something did not seem right. My daughter talked me into getting a different vehicle and could not seem to understand that I knew the Contour and I had done so much work on it, that I should have stayed with it. Now I am stuck with this dangerous lemon.

 

[MalibuSue]