Can this really happen?...Belt snap, and then dead engine?...

[Boxtaboy]

I've had a BMW with an inline 6 leave me stranded with a failed water pump. I turned off the car (but can't remember how long I waited before shut down). Car was fine though. The warning lights should be enough warning to make you turn off the engine. Not sure why people keep on driving.

[Anker]

Reminds me of my oldest daughter's first car, a Buick.

She and her boyfriend we driving up to our Maine farm on the Maine turnpike when the oil pressure lamp went on, she kept driving. Car started smoking, she kept driving. Car started making bad noises, she kept driving. A loud bang and the engine stopped, and she was able to coast into a rest area.

She called me and we drove out to see how bad it was. Had to make an illegal U turn on the pike to avoid a lengthy drive to the next exit. Discovered that AAA had already sent a tow truck to pick up the car and he had made an illegal U turn to the opposite rest area. Made another U turn and climbed up on the tow truck and popped the hood. Saw light through the engine block. Picked up the kids and made yet another U turn. Had the car towed home and replaced the engine. You can't destroy an engine more thoroughly than she had done.

The joys of parenthood!

[Boxtaboy]

I just reminded my wife to immediately pull over and shut down the car if she sees those warning lights.

[njbray]

Originally Posted by Boxtaboy

I just reminded my wife to immediately pull over and shut down the car if she sees those warning lights.

Good luck with that! I usually get "oh by the way there has been a little red light on the car dash for the last few days!"

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by njbray

Good luck with that! I usually get "oh by the way there has been a little red light on the car dash for the last few days!"

I'm being hopeful!

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by njbray

Good luck with that! I usually get "oh by the way there has been a little red light on the car dash for the last few days!"

I got a call from the road from my wife saying the check engine light was on steadily.
I figured no biggie, I'll check it out when I can.
Turns out it was the little red oil can.
By the time I checked the car over, she'd been driving down 3 quarts of oil for four days.
Surprisingly it still ran, but it had torn the rings to hell and had next to no compression.
An expensive lesson in the colour of dashboard warning lights

[aimeusdietger]

Smoke is warning enough that you should stop. The warning lights go on the moment the car senses trouble even before the smoke comes on. Pull over and get the car towed then replace the belt.

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[Luckyed]

I can't tell you the number of times I have glanced over as I'm passing someone and see a bright red CEL glowing on their dash.
Maybe they feel that gas and oil every now and then is enough to keep the car running.

[Boxtaboy]

From Porsche's publications, they seem to recommend drive belt replacement at the 6 yr mark. I've been going by mileage, but it's over 6 yrs for me now, so maybe I should think about replacement. I knew a Boxster owner whom on a whim decided to just keep his original belt on until it snapped to see how long it would really last.... it lasted until 92K or something like that IIRC, and he had a spare belt in his car, so he was not stranded for long.

[JFP in PA]

The serpentine belt is not expensive, and should be considered a wear item. Because they can both leave you stranded, and result in engine damage, we replace them any time we the engine cover off a customer's car.