HI all,

My serpentine belt broke all of a sudden. I'm looking at the belt it it doesn't have any cracks or missing sections.

Belt is relatively new, about a year old. Back in febuary, the car overheated and blew out the upper. Took me a while to fix it and when I did I discovered the tensioner was bouncing. Since I replaced the tensioner it made this awful screaching sound. I reversed the belt and it sounded a bit better (might have been in my head).

Flushed the coolant, and drove her about a mile when the she made a loud screech and silence. Belt blew.

I've looked at all the accessories and nothing is seized.

Belt doesn't have any parts that are glossy, one if the sides of the belt was sliced, not sure if that was before or during the failure.

ANy ideas? just bad luck?

Thanks!

George

look for seized pulley somewhere, alt, air, water pump, idler or tensioner. check them all very carefully. if any belt was ever thrown or shredded, look for pieces of old belt wrapped up behind pulleys that could be interfering, saw this on a grand prix v6

Take a picture of both ends please. I would like to see this.

Otherwise, me thinks bad luck.

Hounddog, I don't see anything like that.

Mike here are the photos. Looking forward to your analysis.

Usually a belt will break straight across if its a tension break.(seized pulley etc) This looks more like premature failure of the belt. Yes, they can fail early on without the tell signs of cracks.

Mike, Thank you for your experience.

The belt 6K1025 made in Mexico what brand is that belt?
I use the GY gatorback- seem to be good quality.

6K1025 is ACDelco.

Here is what the Gator Back looks like. Not straight ribbed, so they grip & don't slip easily.

A tough backing as well help in longevity, as long as Pulley'* are a working correctly.

K061025 is the Gates part #.