What happens if you drive without a serpentine belt?
In a recent thread (Steering wheel won’t turn?), ’95 Chevy Lumina was driven by a shop mechanic two miles without the serpentine belt in place. I would think that lack of a serpentine belt means that the water pump is not turning. Wouldn’t that risk overheating?
Is it safe to drive without a belt?
Can anyone hazard a ballpark estimate of how far it’s safe, in terms of temperature, to drive without a belt. Steering is a different matter of course, and also a safety issue. I had a belt come off a few months ago (Dodge 3.3L) while on a freeway, and after less than a mile, my temp gauge was near the top.
What does serpentine belt do on caravan 3.3?
On a 3.3 caravan (& 3.8), the serpentine belt runs the power steering, alternator and waterpump. They also have a design defect and are prone to come off if exposed to moisture. There is a gates kit to address this and some have had luck using it.
How long can you drive with the engine cold?
Starting out with the engine cold, you can probably drive for between five and ten minutes before the engine starts to get hot. Two miles with the engine cold won’t hurt anything unless those two miles were in rush hour traffic and it took more than ten minutes or so to get to the shop.
How long does a serpentine / drive belt last?
With that being said most serpentine/drive belts can last for a very long time before they need to be replaced. The lifespan of the belt will depend mostly on the type of material it’s made of. Older style belts generally last about 50,000 miles, while those made from EPDM can last up to 100,000 miles.
What should I do if my serpentine belt fell off?
If the battery warning light comes up while driving, the serpentine belt is the first thing to check. There are two “glow levels” of the battery light if you have a serpentine belt problem: This is the case if the belt snapped or fell off.
Can a gasoline car run without a serpentine belt?
On the other hand, gasoline cars will stall after 15-30 minutes if the battery is fully charged because they use much more electricity to keep running. However, if the serpentine belt drives the water pump, it doesn’t matter if it’s a diesel or a gasoline car – they both will overheat in a matter of minutes.
Can a Chevy Lumina drive without a serpentine belt?
In a recent thread (Steering wheel won’t turn?), ’95 Chevy Lumina was driven by a shop mechanic two miles without the serpentine belt in place. I would think that lack of a serpentine belt means that the water pump is not turning.