Serpentine belt will not Move

Tiny
JPORTILLOJR
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 240,000 MILES
Car is Diesel. Yesterday I was driving my car and it started overheating. I pulled over and turned the car off and poured water into the coolant tank as I did not have coolant and needed to get home. Tried to restart the engine but the battery would not fully turn over the engine. I jumped the battery with a portable jump starter I have. The engine turned over, and temperature regulated, but then my car let out the loudest screech I ever heard! It lasted about 7 seconds then just stopped completely. I was 3 minutes from home and just wanted to get my car to a safe space so I drove it home. While driving the power steering was not working and car was very hard to steer. Found out that the serpentine belt completely snapped. Today I replaced the serpentine belt according to the correct diagram. Car started normally and sounded fine until I heard little squeaks and noticed smoke coming from under the hood with an electrical smell to it. Noticed the serpentine will not move before immediately turning off the car. Power steering still would not work.
Monday, February 22nd, 2021 AT 10:04 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Sounds like you have a pulley that is locked up causing the belt to seize and it will eventually snap again due to the crank still spinning.

You have no power steering because it is either the pulley that is locked up or due to the belt not spinning then you have no power steering or alternator. Here are some guides that help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/replace-serpentine-belt

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/serpentine-belt-tensioner-replacement

I would remove the belt and spin each of the pulleys by hand and see which doesn't spin. Most of the time this is the compressor so let's start with this and go from there. Thanks
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Tuesday, February 23rd, 2021 AT 6:55 PM

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