Whelp, I don't think this has happened to anyone yet, but the universe keeps finding creative ways to toy with me.
While driving today, the coolant light started blinking while the coolant temp was still normal. I pulled the code reader and it pointed to a coolant temp sensor invalid signal fault. I thought it was a sensor issue since the coolant level and temp were both fine. Drove a couple of blocks, then engine actually started to overheat and the gauge hit the red. I pulled over, was scratching my head, since I didn't have a coolant leak and the radiator fan was on. I peeked down the water pump area, and wouldn't you know it, all I saw was just the shiny pulley grooves, no water pump belt in sight.
Crazy thing is, I had just replaced both the water bump belt and the accessories belt two months ago when my alternator seized, so there's only about 500 miles on the belt. Granted I didn't get the belt from scuderia, just some ebay seller who claimed the parts were genuine, but I would expect even 3rd party belts to last longer than 2 months.
Anyways, lesson learned. Not worth it to get mission critical parts from eBay. I'm currently stuck on the side of the road waiting for the engine to cool back to ambient temp and then limp the 5 miles home.
While driving today, the coolant light started blinking while the coolant temp was still normal. I pulled the code reader and it pointed to a coolant temp sensor invalid signal fault. I thought it was a sensor issue since the coolant level and temp were both fine. Drove a couple of blocks, then engine actually started to overheat and the gauge hit the red. I pulled over, was scratching my head, since I didn't have a coolant leak and the radiator fan was on. I peeked down the water pump area, and wouldn't you know it, all I saw was just the shiny pulley grooves, no water pump belt in sight.
Crazy thing is, I had just replaced both the water bump belt and the accessories belt two months ago when my alternator seized, so there's only about 500 miles on the belt. Granted I didn't get the belt from scuderia, just some ebay seller who claimed the parts were genuine, but I would expect even 3rd party belts to last longer than 2 months.
Anyways, lesson learned. Not worth it to get mission critical parts from eBay. I'm currently stuck on the side of the road waiting for the engine to cool back to ambient temp and then limp the 5 miles home.
The only things I could think of is that it was mounted so loosely , it eventually stretched just enough to slip off the pulleys, or, even though you got the belt just two months ago it doesn’t mean that it may not have been “sitting on the shelf“ in inventory for many years before it was sold and it degraded in all that time, causing it to snap when in use rather quickly . ( Some belt manufacturers advise their distributors and retail sources not to sell belts which are more than three years old since the production date, but there is nothing preventing parts sellers form ignoring that advice )
