Help! Keep blowing my alternator belt
09-21-2009, 01:03 PM
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Help! Keep blowing my alternator belt
First I did some searching and can't find anything similar to this so any help/comments/ thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Story...
About a month and a half ago came home from my cottage (2hr drive) on the hwy about 10min from my place, I hear some noise like running over stones or something, a second later my battery light comes on. Watching my gauges engine starts heating up so pull over and turn her off quick. Smoke now and well my alternator belt completely gone and coolant everywhere.
Got a new one installed from Mazda all is good. Go to the track the next weekend run 2+ hours no problem.
This past Sunday (so about a month or so since new belt) go to Mosport for 20min of parade lapping, first lap ez lap no problem, second lap starts, getting some speed and rpms up, battery light comes on, and sure enough smoke and temp starts going up. Pull over belt completely gone again and coolant everywhere. Oh and it pulled apart my metering oil pump harness and pulled out the (black) negative wire from one harness urg.
Towed it home and on the tow truck there is a bearing (looks like a donut decent size and thickness greased to hell) on the flat bed.
Any ideas why I would keep blowing belts?
Thx in advanced!
UPDATE Oct. 26 There is still a problem
so pissed! The mazda tech thought my intake hoses where slipping off (one leading to the oil excess overflow spout). I replaced that with a longer hose and clamped them all down. It seemed ok.
Was at the track on the weekend and after about a 20min run, checked under the hood and fukin oil everywhere (not coolant). My hoses on my intake are fine, there was a bunch of oil on the lower side of alternator, and mostly left of the belts. Least I didn't throw a belt this time. Has anyone had this kinda problem? Would this be covered under the extended 160,000km/100,000 mil warranty? By looking in the engine bay it impossible to pin point. Will post pics later tonight.
Updated new pics/problem/freakin mess
Story...
About a month and a half ago came home from my cottage (2hr drive) on the hwy about 10min from my place, I hear some noise like running over stones or something, a second later my battery light comes on. Watching my gauges engine starts heating up so pull over and turn her off quick. Smoke now and well my alternator belt completely gone and coolant everywhere.
Got a new one installed from Mazda all is good. Go to the track the next weekend run 2+ hours no problem.
This past Sunday (so about a month or so since new belt) go to Mosport for 20min of parade lapping, first lap ez lap no problem, second lap starts, getting some speed and rpms up, battery light comes on, and sure enough smoke and temp starts going up. Pull over belt completely gone again and coolant everywhere. Oh and it pulled apart my metering oil pump harness and pulled out the (black) negative wire from one harness urg.
Towed it home and on the tow truck there is a bearing (looks like a donut decent size and thickness greased to hell) on the flat bed.
Any ideas why I would keep blowing belts?
Thx in advanced!
UPDATE Oct. 26 There is still a problem
so pissed! The mazda tech thought my intake hoses where slipping off (one leading to the oil excess overflow spout). I replaced that with a longer hose and clamped them all down. It seemed ok.Was at the track on the weekend and after about a 20min run, checked under the hood and fukin oil everywhere (not coolant). My hoses on my intake are fine, there was a bunch of oil on the lower side of alternator, and mostly left of the belts. Least I didn't throw a belt this time. Has anyone had this kinda problem? Would this be covered under the extended 160,000km/100,000 mil warranty? By looking in the engine bay it impossible to pin point. Will post pics later tonight.
Updated new pics/problem/freakin mess
Last edited by Thumper3322; 10-26-2009 at 06:12 PM.
09-21-2009, 01:18 PM
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Ya all pulleys seem to move freely. It would seize twice like that?
When it happened the first time, the reason I got for coolant everywhere, was because the water pump not cranking it backed up and had to go somewhere and boiled over to the excess drain spout.
When it happened the first time, the reason I got for coolant everywhere, was because the water pump not cranking it backed up and had to go somewhere and boiled over to the excess drain spout.
09-21-2009, 01:58 PM
#8
gonna have to disagree with you jon :P
water pump wouldnt just seize while you are driving.. the reason its overheating is because there is no longer a belt spinning it. of course its gonna spew and smoke if its not being turned
if the car starts fine without a belt, then there is nothing wrong with the main pulley.
if the car runs with a new belt for more than 10minutes, the alternator is fine.
if the water pump pulley spins free then it is fine.
There has to be something hitting and fraying your belt or either you have it too tight/loose and its snapping.
water pump wouldnt just seize while you are driving.. the reason its overheating is because there is no longer a belt spinning it. of course its gonna spew and smoke if its not being turned
if the car starts fine without a belt, then there is nothing wrong with the main pulley.
if the car runs with a new belt for more than 10minutes, the alternator is fine.
if the water pump pulley spins free then it is fine.
There has to be something hitting and fraying your belt or either you have it too tight/loose and its snapping.
09-21-2009, 02:04 PM
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Yes the engine starts fine and runs smooth, but of course heats up quickly.
"There has to be something hitting and fraying your belt or either you have it too tight/loose and its snapping. " That's what everyone kinda thought, but what the hell would be hitting it to brake it, the tension/belt was done by mazda so I would think that would be fine.
"There has to be something hitting and fraying your belt or either you have it too tight/loose and its snapping. " That's what everyone kinda thought, but what the hell would be hitting it to brake it, the tension/belt was done by mazda so I would think that would be fine.
09-21-2009, 04:50 PM
#10
LOL... thats OK, water pump was just my guess based on the symptom.
Probably because the same thing just happened to my step-brother (different car) and it ended up being the water pump.
The belt just breaking can be caused my a number of things, but when he threw in overheating and coolant everywhere, all those "points" lead to the pump for me.
But I see what you're saying... the main belt broke (which spins the water pulley) so that in itself caused it to overheat.
Guess we'll wait and see what the dealer says and then you can say to me, "told ya so!"
Probably because the same thing just happened to my step-brother (different car) and it ended up being the water pump.
The belt just breaking can be caused my a number of things, but when he threw in overheating and coolant everywhere, all those "points" lead to the pump for me.
But I see what you're saying... the main belt broke (which spins the water pulley) so that in itself caused it to overheat.
Guess we'll wait and see what the dealer says and then you can say to me, "told ya so!"
Last edited by Jon316G; 09-21-2009 at 04:58 PM.
09-21-2009, 05:39 PM
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If all things above have been covered. I'd suggest about the only things left 1. I assume there is no problem maintaining tension on the belt or 2. verify all pulleys lineup is a single plane, no twist or possible rubs against the side of the pulleys. 3. just thought on one more , double check for any sharp edges on any of the pulleys.
Sorry to see you on the side of the track, glad it was just coolant.
Sorry to see you on the side of the track, glad it was just coolant.
09-21-2009, 06:03 PM
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I checked the water pump again and it moves freely and very smooth so...same with alternator.
Updated first post with pics.
Thx again for suggestions!
Updated first post with pics.
Thx again for suggestions!
09-21-2009, 07:09 PM
#15
if your belt snapped, it wouldn't result with all that residue - it looks like you've had something going on for a while now.
I would take off the belt and see if the water pump spins freely. It will have some resistance, but you shouldn't find it difficult to spin.
I would take off the belt and see if the water pump spins freely. It will have some resistance, but you shouldn't find it difficult to spin.
09-21-2009, 07:17 PM
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Is it possible that some solid object is in the coolant?
A bolt or nut?
... Coolant flows fine till the object gets caught in the water pump, water pump locks, belt shreds.
A bolt or nut?
... Coolant flows fine till the object gets caught in the water pump, water pump locks, belt shreds.
09-21-2009, 09:32 PM
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Nope there was a piece in the engine bay, but threw it out, it was shredded anyhow.
Ya to many things to tell...misalignment would be the only thing they could really check. What about it slipping off?!
What you mean it wouldn't? There is no belt left to take off it is completely gone lol and the coolant everywhere is from the coolant tank over filling due to heat and coming out the excess drain. Already posted, the pump spins with zero resistance it is very very smooth.
The coolant was completely flushed out and new stuff put in when the belt was replaced. I doubt I would have gone as long as I have if something was jammed in. But good thought!
The first belt was prob due to age and some oil I think got on it...second one hope it just comes down to being over tightened and hope for no more damage/cost...eeee
The first belt was prob due to age and some oil I think got on it...second one hope it just comes down to being over tightened and hope for no more damage/cost...eeee
09-22-2009, 06:14 AM
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if this was the case i would think there would be a huge problem with the water pump. remember, the belt broke on the track, so assume the revs never being under about 6500rpm. it was also at mosport, so he would be on the throttle more often than not. if something was in there and moved into the path of the water pumps blades, Ka-Freakin-Boom. the bearing would likely be toast after that. at the very least. something would feel weird. but i can attest to the pump spins perfectly free (with just the slightest resistance from any coolant that is in the housing).
09-22-2009, 09:24 AM
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Thank goodness NO! Any thoughts on what that Bearing would be from??
You think that would have been checked after it was just replaced! To the naked eye I never saw anything that looked out of sort or misaligned.
09-22-2009, 09:34 AM
#22
Does the drive pulley have a rubber isolator built into it? On my wife's Subaru, that broke loose. This allowed the pulley to move. This would cause belts to be thrown or break. It appears that the pulleys on the alt and water pump are solid metal, so there shouldn't be any alignment problems there.
09-22-2009, 10:34 AM
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^I don't know...but if was you would think the AC belt would be gone as well?!
I'm gonna guess it's just comes down to me be very unlucky...as others know to well on this forum lol.
I'm gonna guess it's just comes down to me be very unlucky...as others know to well on this forum lol.
09-23-2009, 01:47 AM
#24
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Just to throw this in there...
My thoughts are incorrect alignment of belt...or
Wrong brand or type of ribbed belt?, not aligning properly in pulley grooves?
Looks like a pulley bearing or sealed bearing, maybe Air pump or an Idle pulley bearing?
My thoughts are incorrect alignment of belt...or
Wrong brand or type of ribbed belt?, not aligning properly in pulley grooves?
Looks like a pulley bearing or sealed bearing, maybe Air pump or an Idle pulley bearing?
09-23-2009, 06:12 AM
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Your last pictures, I cant get an idea of size or material, but it it looks like one of the rubber grommets located under the back of the air box that holds it in place.