While on the highway, the water pump bearings shredded themselves causing the actual pump propeller to come loose, which took the tension out of the belt. While going highway speeds the belt snapped, in addition to the plastic propeller of the water pump rubbing against the insides of the engine, causing plastic particles to get into the engine (visually seen when purging cooling system). While driving, it sounded like I ran over a big stick and the battery light came on, (because the water pump and alternator share a belt, which was no longer there.
Problem was fixed by removing the entire front end of the car to replace the water pump, ($100 part), replacing the belt, and purging the cooling system to remove all of the debris. Overall could've been worse but was still a pain in my back nonetheless. Couldn't be driven at all till it was fixed because of the risk of overheating the engine or killing the battery.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
While on the highway, the water pump bearings shredded themselves causing the actual pump propeller to come loose, which took the tension out of the belt. While going highway speeds the belt snapped, in addition to the plastic propeller of the water pump rubbing against the insides of the engine, causing plastic particles to get into the engine (visually seen when purging cooling system). While driving, it sounded like I ran over a big stick and the battery light came on, (because the water pump and alternator share a belt, which was no longer there.
Problem was fixed by removing the entire front end of the car to replace the water pump, ($100 part), replacing the belt, and purging the cooling system to remove all of the debris. Overall could've been worse but was still a pain in my back nonetheless. Couldn't be driven at all till it was fixed because of the risk of overheating the engine or killing the battery.
- Eric O., Jacksonville, US