Should have checked my fan belt better!

[davidr]

I took my 1996 Celebration out for a quick spin this afternoon to check that some work I'd done was OK. As I got to the other side of my village I headed off towards Thruxton. As I pulled away and kicked the gearbox down to fly up the hill there was a screech and a bang and then the alternator light came on. You've guessed it - the fan belt had snapped!

And here are its remains!
The good thing was that I carry a spare but I didn't have any tools with me. It's not a good thing to have no water pump or fan when it's 29 degrees outside! I decided that as I was only just over a mile from home I would take the car back in short bursts leaving it for 10 minutes to cool down then going briefly again. 4 rounds of that got me home but she was quite hot! What surprised me was how hot it had to be before the electric fan kicked in.
Didn't take very long to change the belt and I've only ordered another spare.
The moral of the story is that I did look at the belt when I serviced the car a couple of months ago and passed it as OK. What I should have done was to not be so lazy and take it off for a proper inspection!

[Tintin]

I did look at the belt when I serviced the car a couple of months ago and passed it as OK.

And I'm sure it was - I reckon you must have a gang of hungry mice in your garage!

Robbie

[J44EAG]

In my experience, drive belts, bushes and ball joints in wishbone arms can only be properly inspected OFF the car. Only then can a belt be bent back on itself to check for structural cracks and in the case of bushes and balls, only when the containing units are placed in a vice, can some leverage be applied. On the car, the exercise can be futile and ineffective.

Mike.

[davidr]

Mike is absolutely right and that is what I should have done - just I was too idle!!

[poprivet]

Is that a ribbed belt David?
It's difficult to see them degrade. I had one that lost a couple of the ribs but luckily still worked on only half it's width.

It was only a ticking noise that alerted me as a loose piece was flailing about in a desperate last effort to destroy something else in it's reach

[davidr]

Yes it (or should I say was) a ribbed belt.
If you recall, this was an original one that I first replaced a couple of years ago when I overhauled the cooling system. It was in good condition then but I'd replaced it as I had the radiator out and so access was straight forward and for the sake of a few pounds I did it whilst I was in there. You may also recall my complaint that the new Dayco OE one was a bit chirpy so I put the old (Jaguar/Dayco genuine) one back on! Perhaps a mistake in hindsight but I did look at it carefully before reinstating it.
Again, in hindsight, there were clues as the broken one was getting a bit noisy before it gave up.

[ng4xjs]

Must do mine. I bought a new one when I bought my present XJS and that was about ten years ago. The belt still sits in the boot but the one on the car looks and feels okay. I do carry enough tools to do the job but I'm guessing I should be doing it anyway. I'll change my coolant which is long overdue although the header tank says "do not drain" and when I inspect it it is perfectly good and clean and yellow. I did my brake fluid about 3 years ago so guess this will need to be done, not least because it is a new item to test under the new MOT test. I've also got a small oil leak which I think is coming from the oil pressure switch, bit still needs doing.

Happy days
Nick