pulley bearing? serpentine belt not moving

[flyrite]

okay, i have the 92 seville, base model. 4.9liter

I had a strange squeaking sound coming from the right front of the enigne for about a week and was about to take it in to have it checked out. I assumed it was a bearing in one of the pulleys on the serpentine belt. So I go to park at home and i hear a clunk or clank and i was backing up so i thought i hit something. Got out. Nope. The usual squeking sound had became a much more lighter sound, higher pitched squeal.

i had company so I put off checking out. Then I went to go to the store and as soon as i started driving i realized that the power steering was not working and since i had made it out into traffic i had to pull the car around the block. I parked with the car running and quickly checked the engine and noticed that the serpentine belt was not moving but i definitely heard a pulley going.

I shut the car off immediately and tried to call my mechanic but it was late and I coudn't raise him.

So, here I am. Now I know that the crankshaft pulley drives the serpentine belt right?

If that pulley failed is it going to be an expensive fix? Or could it be a different pulley that failed? Or is it possible that it threw the belt on the bottom of the serpentine belt assembly and just stopped.

I will be getting it towed to my mechanic but he's a kind of shade tree macguyver. I am certain that he will be able to fix it but meanwhile I wanted to get an idea of what i was in for...

thanks in advance,
flyrite

[Msilva954]

Make sure the tensioner is tightened first......it may not be tight enough to allow the belt to rotate.

If you do need to replace a pully it shouldnt be too exspensive...they are relatively cheap and doing it yourself makes it a cheaper job.

[Imprl59]

Probably a tensioner or Idler pulley. Could be a waterpump, a/c compressor or power steering pump but those are less likely. Is the belt broken?

Steve B.

[BeelzeBob]

Something failed and seized and is holding the accessory belt still. You will need a new belt at the very least as the crank pulley has certainly burned the belt up in that area.

In order of likelyhood of failure I would guess.....AC compressor clutch hub bearing.......water pump.......alternator......

Your mechanic can remove the belt and determine what is not turning in the accessory drive train and figure it out pretty quick I would guess.

[flyrite]

thanks for the replies everyone. I am in the midst of finding my mechanic and getting this handled. I'm hoping that it is a pulley. the belt is new and i had already replced one of the pulleys. the pulley that is the top middle one which is like a neutral pulley and is below the tensioner (edit=okay that would be the tensionor pulley, duh). at the same time replaced the belt so i'm thinking another pulley was on it's way out and the added stress of that new belt and pulley just facilitated its demise.


thank god buddha or vishnu for roadside assistance though. an uncovered tow would have sank my funds for the holiday weekend.

i'll follow up tonight.

flyrite

[flyrite]

okay looks like the water pump pulley fell apart. the water pump pulley is right below the power steering pump pulley right?

well the outer piece broke away from the bolts. sheared right off.

we're looking for a replacement and new belt right now.

[flyrite]

pulley assembly is a dealer part at 52.60.

looks like the new belt got chewed on a bit so i have to replace that. suto parts store.
32.99 for driverite or 43.99 for dayco. my buddy who is a machinist/tool and die maker is pretty much doing the work for free. he even bought the beer.

that's what is otherwise known as a "solid".