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[Dukester]

Apologies I don't psot here often but to be honest the Omega has been great with no problems. So I was on my way home to start the New Year festivities and the car lost power steering. Alt light came on, and the temp gauge went up. Popped the bonnet and sure enough the drive belt was off.  Limped 1/4 mile back to work. Could this be a tensioner problem that caused the belt to come off or something else like a seized power steering pump, alternator, or something else? It's a 2002 Omega 2.6.

Appreciate any feedback from the experts

Dukester

[Andy B]

Apologies I don't psot here often but to be honest the Omega has been great with no problems. So I was on my way home to start the New Year festivities and the car lost power steering. Alt light came on, and the temp gauge went up. Popped the bonnet and sure enough the drive belt was off.  Limped 1/4 mile back to work. Could this be a tensioner problem that caused the belt to come off or something else like a seized power steering pump, alternator, or something else? It's a 2002 Omega 2.6.

Appreciate any feedback from the experts

Dukester

Hi ... and a belated welcome to the site

What are you like at sorting warped cylinder heads? 

[05omegav6]

Engine and ignition OFF, try and spin pullies by hand...

As you face it... Tensioner is top left, water pump top centre, top right is power steering and bottom right is AC. Bottom centre is crank pulley, you won't turn that by hand

All should spin freely with no obvious play or roughness.

Any noise, roughness or obvious play is your point of problem... have a rummage and report back

[Dukester]

Taxi Al,

The WP is feels seized and the pully on the front is wobbling - could explain the noise I have for the last couple of weeks like a bearing going out. 

Many thanks to all

Dukester

[05omegav6]

Taxi Al,

The WP is feels seized and the pully on the front is wobbling - could explain the noise I have for the last couple of weeks like a bearing going out. 

Many thanks to all

Dukester

That be it... best get a new one... and might as well get the cambelt done at the same time

[Dukester]

Taxi Al,

Many thanks again - cambelt done 10K ago

Dukester

[05omegav6]

Taxi Al,

Many thanks again - cambelt done 10K ago

Dukester

Two questions...
1. When and was the WP changed at the same time?
2. What is the mileage on the car?

[robson]

10K but how many years between changes?

[BazaJT]

Believe it's advised on here at 4years?No doubt someone will put me right on that if I'm in error!

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I'm confused

If your DRIVE belt comes off then the engine will not turn over without the valves hiting the pistons, so "limping home" is not usually an option.

Unlikely then that your problem is the main drive belt but an auxilary belt.

[VXL V6]

I'm confused

If your DRIVE belt comes off then the engine will not turn over without the valves hiting the pistons, so "limping home" is not usually an option.

Unlikely then that your problem is the main drive belt but an auxilary belt.

I think the fact that the coolant temp rose, the alternator charging lamp lit, the car lost power steering but the owner was able to drive the car should be enough to work out which belt is being discussed here.

[omega3000]

I'm confused

If your DRIVE belt comes off then the engine will not turn over without the valves hiting the pistons, so "limping home" is not usually an option.

Unlikely then that your problem is the main drive belt but an auxilary belt.

I think the fact that the coolant temp rose, the alternator charging lamp lit, the car lost power steering but the owner was able to drive the car should be enough to work out which belt is being discussed here.

Surly that would have cooked the engine 

[The Sheriff]

I'm confused

If your DRIVE belt comes off then the engine will not turn over without the valves hiting the pistons, so "limping home" is not usually an option.

Unlikely then that your problem is the main drive belt but an auxilary belt.

I think the fact that the coolant temp rose, the alternator charging lamp lit, the car lost power steering but the owner was able to drive the car should be enough to work out which belt is being discussed here.

Surly that would have cooked the engine 

It may have. We'll see.

[Andy B]

I'm confused

If your DRIVE belt comes off then the engine will not turn over without the valves hiting the pistons, so "limping home" is not usually an option.

Unlikely then that your problem is the main drive belt but an auxilary belt.

I think the fact that the coolant temp rose, the alternator charging lamp lit, the car lost power steering but the owner was able to drive the car should be enough to work out which belt is being discussed here.

Surly that would have cooked the engine 

Isn't that what I said #1?

[terry paget]

I've been there. On the way to my son's wedding reception at Dawlish Warren, 5 miles short of destination. Suddenly a strange noise, power steering went stiff, battery light came on, and engine temperature began to rise. I guesed auxiliary belt had gone. When temp went into the red I stopped, waited till it cooled down, did a mile more, allowed to cool again. Engine would not restart, so I walked the last three miles.

My cause was seized auxilairy belt tensioner pulley bearing, but any aux belt item bearing stiffening would have the same result. I had an alternator bearing on a Senator do a similar thing, with a similar result. Sounds like your water pump bearing has gone. Not end of world. Change the water pump and you are back on the road again.