Check Fan belts condition before long drive.

chanapli · 29th January 2007, 09:38

We two families [four adults and three children below 7 years] had a bad experience on my Bolero on Last thursday night. Started from Bangalore to cochin around 5:00PM.

Once got past e-city Hosur road traffic I was driving aggressively till I noticed the battery symbol in dash started glowing, temperature gauge is showing full!!. This is was somewhere 20 kms before Krishnagiri. I stopped [ power assisted brake was already became hard. I had some trouble stopping the the massive Bolero with full load from 100 plus speed], opened the bonnet saw the coolant tank fuming. My friend noticed there was also a broken fan belt hanging.

It was already getting dark and females started worrying, decided to give some cooling time, filled up the coolant tank with drinking water, drove for 5 kms in 5th gear whenever possible with just park lights on [ knew the battery will not charge] to a place where there are humans. Thought we will manage with a "rope technology", purchased a good rope, used the rope instead of belt [ engine was still hot!], still fan not rotating. Enquired about any workshop nearby. Luckily a highway patrol stopped, said there is a good workshop [Maanikkan automobiles] just after the Krishnagiri toll which is 15kms away. The cop told not to worry, drive slow he will escort. [ I thought he will demand money, especially after my poor tamil. But they did not!.Infact they escorted in their jeep for another five kms] . Cops then waved hand said bye, told us if any problem contact emergency number.

We managed to reach the workshop, got the belt replaced [ belt was purchased in between]. He had to work for another hour because the broken belt was inside other five belts. Finally by 10:00PM the vehicle was repaired. reached Cochin by 6:00AM.

Suggestion: If possible carry spare belts. In my case if it had been any other vehicle ( apart from Maruthi's and my very own Bolero), believe me I would not had got the correct size belt.

Sush · 29th January 2007, 11:03

Glad to know that the Police men behaved in such a friendly manner.

I too have to go for a long drive next weekend and will make sure to check the engine belts in my santro.

GTO · 29th January 2007, 11:40

Before I opened this thread, I knew it had to be a Mahindra.....I learnt this the hard way with my diesel engine!!

Mahindra ought to inform owners on delivery to carry along extra fan belts, air-con compressor belts and radiator hoses.

esteem_lover · 29th January 2007, 12:00

and power steering oil & coolant. LOL

2fast4u · 29th January 2007, 12:33

and dont forget the tool kit and some diy to fix basic stuff like belts, points etc

hvkumar · 29th January 2007, 13:13

Firstly, change the belt strictly at recommended intervals (60,000 kms or so), even though the belt may not show any signs of wear. Garages have this tendency to tell owners that there is no need to change belts, but please insist - a broken belt can cause lot of damage.

I always carry the discarded belt (which is normally in good condition if you change at recommended intervals) so that it can be used in case the belt fails. It is always easy to get a mechanic who can change a belt but not so easy to get a new belt, especilaly when you are on teh highway.

2fast4u · 29th January 2007, 15:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedometer

If we stick to regular service intervals ,i dont think we need to worry about any part failing

a car is "almost" like a woman you never know what can happen.
only saving grace the car wont complain.

jango · 29th January 2007, 15:33

Yeah true changing the fan belts at regular intervals is a gud idea and a gud practise..and i am sure after the belt snapped you would have had a very bad time thinking abt the distance u need to travel to reach cochin !!..i have gone tru this once before !!

danlalan · 29th January 2007, 15:51

well something i dont understand is that..the guys at ford told me my belt would be due for change anytime now...but i am far from crossing 30,000 kms...and its a 00' ikon..

hvkumar · 29th January 2007, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by danlalan

well something i dont understand is that..the guys at ford told me my belt would be due for change anytime now...but i am far from crossing 30,000 kms...and its a 00' ikon..

I think 7 years is too long a time for a rubber belt, you MUST change it regardless of how many kilometres you have run the car. My thumb rule is that I change rubber parts (like belts) at least once every 2.5-3 years.

kgc_cool · 29th January 2007, 19:38

I had a similar experience with my dad's old Maruti 800. We concluded that the only reason for our suffering was due to my dad's friendly neighbourhood garage insisting on not replacing parts till they fell off!

After that experience (we were stuck about 30 KM away frmo Hyd), my dad is now a regular at a nearby "authorized" service station!

rankoz350 · 29th January 2007, 20:08

Bravo coppers mann!!!

sreenivass · 30th January 2007, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chanapli

.....
He had to work for another hour because the broken belt was inside other five belts. Finally by 10:00PM the vehicle was repaired. reached Cochin by 6:00AM.

Suggestion: If possible carry spare belts. In my case if it had been any other vehicle ( apart from Maruthi's and my very own Bolero), believe me I would not had got the correct size belt.

Is it suggested to drive the vehicle with a broken belt ? Would it not get in to other parts and possibly cause more damage ?

chanapli · 30th January 2007, 08:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by sreenivass

Is it suggested to drive the vehicle with a broken belt ? Would it not get in to other parts and possibly cause more damage ?

Well, I did not had any other option, my friend.

we stooped at regular intervals, filled up the coolent tank with water. After reparing, filled up the tank with new one littre coolent + water.

29th January 2007, 09:38	#1
chanapli BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Banglaore Posts: 270 Thanked: Once	Check Fan belts condition before long drive. We two families [four adults and three children below 7 years] had a bad experience on my Bolero on Last thursday night. Started from Bangalore to cochin around 5:00PM. Once got past e-city Hosur road traffic I was driving aggressively till I noticed the battery symbol in dash started glowing, temperature gauge is showing full!!. This is was somewhere 20 kms before Krishnagiri. I stopped [ power assisted brake was already became hard. I had some trouble stopping the the massive Bolero with full load from 100 plus speed], opened the bonnet saw the coolant tank fuming. My friend noticed there was also a broken fan belt hanging. It was already getting dark and females started worrying, decided to give some cooling time, filled up the coolant tank with drinking water, drove for 5 kms in 5th gear whenever possible with just park lights on [ knew the battery will not charge] to a place where there are humans. Thought we will manage with a "rope technology", purchased a good rope, used the rope instead of belt [ engine was still hot!], still fan not rotating. Enquired about any workshop nearby. Luckily a highway patrol stopped, said there is a good workshop [Maanikkan automobiles] just after the Krishnagiri toll which is 15kms away. The cop told not to worry, drive slow he will escort. [ I thought he will demand money, especially after my poor tamil. But they did not!.Infact they escorted in their jeep for another five kms] . Cops then waved hand said bye, told us if any problem contact emergency number. We managed to reach the workshop, got the belt replaced [ belt was purchased in between]. He had to work for another hour because the broken belt was inside other five belts. Finally by 10:00PM the vehicle was repaired. reached Cochin by 6:00AM. Suggestion: If possible carry spare belts. In my case if it had been any other vehicle ( apart from Maruthi's and my very own Bolero), believe me I would not had got the correct size belt.
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 11:03	#2
Sush BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Noida, New York Posts: 308 Thanked: 2 Times	Glad to know that the Police men behaved in such a friendly manner. I too have to go for a long drive next weekend and will make sure to check the engine belts in my santro. Last edited by Sush : 29th January 2007 at 11:06.
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 11:40	#3
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,698 Times View My Garage	Before I opened this thread, I knew it had to be a Mahindra.....I learnt this the hard way with my diesel engine!! Mahindra ought to inform owners on delivery to carry along extra fan belts, air-con compressor belts and radiator hoses.
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 12:00	#4
esteem_lover Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Madras/Py Posts: 7,556 Thanked: 502 Times View My Garage	and power steering oil & coolant. LOL
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29th January 2007, 12:33	#5
2fast4u BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: pune / Bahrain Posts: 488 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	and dont forget the tool kit and some diy to fix basic stuff like belts, points etc
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 13:13	#6
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Firstly, change the belt strictly at recommended intervals (60,000 kms or so), even though the belt may not show any signs of wear. Garages have this tendency to tell owners that there is no need to change belts, but please insist - a broken belt can cause lot of damage. I always carry the discarded belt (which is normally in good condition if you change at recommended intervals) so that it can be used in case the belt fails. It is always easy to get a mechanic who can change a belt but not so easy to get a new belt, especilaly when you are on teh highway.
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 15:33	#8
jango BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York & kotayam Posts: 800 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	Yeah true changing the fan belts at regular intervals is a gud idea and a gud practise..and i am sure after the belt snapped you would have had a very bad time thinking abt the distance u need to travel to reach cochin !!..i have gone tru this once before !!
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 15:51	#9
danlalan Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai,JUHU Posts: 1,636 Thanked: 263 Times View My Garage	well something i dont understand is that..the guys at ford told me my belt would be due for change anytime now...but i am far from crossing 30,000 kms...and its a 00' ikon..
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 19:38	#11
kgc_cool BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 53 Thanked: 6 Times	I had a similar experience with my dad's old Maruti 800. We concluded that the only reason for our suffering was due to my dad's friendly neighbourhood garage insisting on not replacing parts till they fell off! After that experience (we were stuck about 30 KM away frmo Hyd), my dad is now a regular at a nearby "authorized" service station!
	() Thanks

29th January 2007, 20:08	#12
rankoz350 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ghusais - Bangalore - Dehradun Posts: 94 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	Bravo coppers mann!!!
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