PARealtor

Cruising along and first the check battery light pops up.. then about 5 minutes later the check engine light comes on..( I was on the highway with wife and kid in torrential rain so I was trying to get home or at least off the road at the next exit) about 20 seconds later all the lights start flashing and the car dies.. took a peak and it looks like a belt broke from wear..

anyone know what belt would cause these symptoms and how much the dealer is going to kill me?

Eric - The Red S4

I'm no expert but I think there is only one belt on the front of the engine and if that is what let go, it probably won't be cheap. The belt maybe but the laybor will probably get you. I'm guessing the front end has to come off to get at it easily. Extended warranty?

Good luck.

ncampos976

front end should not have to come off. these engines are chain driven, the belt drives the alternator only im pretty sure. if that broke then im thinking maybe a pully seized up or something. its just a cheap serpentine belt.

PARealtor

no word from the shop but they said it was just the alternator belt.. Seems like mostly labor charges but Im sure they are going to offer some other suggestions while they have the car apart.

PARealtor

turned out to be a bad pulley. Got it fixed, under cpo warrant for $50 plus tax... cheapest trip to the dealer ever!

joeycuccaro

Good thing for warranty!

Correct. The alternator is the only main component that is run off the serpentine belt. However, the front end does need to come off in order to change the belt. When a belt snaps it is usually because of excessive wear or a bad tensioner pulley.

PARealtor

they did have to take the front end off. I only know this because they must have misplaced a fastener or something and now I have a shiny new screw in the wheel well.

Im wondering if thats standard or they just found the first screw they could and drove it in there.

ncampos976

what kind of screw. a T25? or a bolt