Just had one of my belts break/shred while pulling into a gas station this morning and im trying to figure out why (belt for power steering and a/c). I just recently did the OFHG so I had both belts, tensioners and some pulleys removed. When doing so, I inspected everything and they all checked out fine. Maybe I didnt put the belt back on correctly?I drove maybe 5 miles before it decided to break, even did a couple of pulls. Is there a way to check the tensioner to make sure its good? The belts have maybe 8K miles on them. Car has 90K miles and as far as I know, the tensioners have never been changed.
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Seems like quite the coincidence. I would imagine you put something back incorrectly. The only way a healthy belt would shred would be if a pulley/bearing seized.
nick3753 wroteThats kind of been my thought about. Either I didnt put the belt back on properly or maybe didn't clean some of the pulleys up well enough after they got a good drenching of coolant when I was removing the radiator/hoses.Seems like quite the coincidence. I would imagine you put something back incorrectly. The only way a healthy belt would shred would be if a pulley/bearing seized.
Had exact same thing happen to me. Had to replace belts, pulleys, and tensioners.
Approaching 90k miles
Approaching 90k miles
M3JayM wroteI have a suspicion that I either didn't put the belt in correctly (maybe not fully on 1 of the pulleys). Ive got 2 new belts on order so we will see how that goes.Had exact same thing happen to me. Had to replace belts, pulleys, and tensioners.
Approaching 90k miles
Be careful not to over torque any of the pulley or tensioner bolts.
I’ve had this happen. One of the belts was sitting on the edge of the pulley not totally centered. It drove fine for about an hour before it tore itself in half. Part of it got stuck in the fan and seized it.
Make sure you check and get all the belt fragments out of the engine.
Make sure you check and get all the belt fragments out of the engine.
charliev68 wroteThankfully mine didn't do that, how ever it did shred and got wrapped around the alternator/water pump belt. It happened at a gas station, I wasn't able to pull it all out so I had it tow3d back home.I’ve had this happen. One of the belts was sitting on the edge of the pulley not totally centered. It drove fine for about an hour before it tore itself in half. Part of it got stuck in the fan and seized it.
Make sure you check and get all the belt fragments out of the engine.
DrFerry wroteDo you by chance know the torque specs for the tensioners? If not im sure a quick Google search will tell meBe careful not to over torque any of the pulley or tensioner bolts.
I don’t recall off hand but this forum has a torque spec thread and a belt tensioner DIY thread IIRC.
DrFerry wroteMaybe in hereI don’t recall off hand but this forum has a torque spec thread and a belt tensioner DIY thread IIRC.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2109022
DrFerry wroteI was just reading that thread. Just what I was looking for. Thanks
DrFerryAlright I figured id ask you another question since you seem to be a well seasoned e9x m3 guy. I just got the new belts on, went to install fan shroud, realized a long string from the broken belt was stuck inside the fan motor. Took the fan off, pulled about 6in of a belt string out but cant get the rest out. Is there a way ti remove the fan from the motor so I can get the remaining belt out? Or am I screwed and have to buy a new one?
S65Hunter wroteWithout photos it's hard to say for sure. The fan motor isn't designed to be serviceable. However, this video shows how to disassemble the fan motor for an E9X M3:
Alright I figured id ask you another question since you seem to be a well seasoned e9x m3 guy. I just got the new belts on, went to install fan shroud, realized a long string from the broken belt was stuck inside the fan motor. Took the fan off, pulled about 6in of a belt string out but cant get the rest out. Is there a way ti remove the fan from the motor so I can get the remaining belt out? Or am I screwed and have to buy a new one?
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And this thread describes some of the process. Good luck.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1759489
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