73,000 miles- smoked my fan belt yesterday, back on the road today

[DZink24]

i went to start the truck to go home yesterday, and as it was turning over, i thought it felt funny. then i heard it, you know the sound of a ripped and tattered fan belt smacking off of everything under the hood

called my buddy for a tow, and he brought me back to his shop where he replaced it today. is 73,000 miles too soon? normal?

 

[JR]

If your talking the belt off your 04, thats going on 9 years. Probably the age of the belt had it dried out and cracked which is what more than likely did it in rather than mileage.

 

[jgillott]

Yea, I would agree that age was a factor there. That reminds me, the one on my '07 is going on 6 years. Time for another soon. We ran the one on our '04. 5 for a little over 200K before replacement. Wouldn't you know it, a few months later the AC compressor locked up and destroyed the new one. We're good with luck like that.

 

[goodguys75]

take a look at it and make sure it was not wearing funny... . could be something else... . but may be just the yrs on it..... they are good belts

 

[JR]

You should also have your tensioner checked/replaced

 

[S.Morris]

To prevent downtime, always change idler bearings and tensioner bearings at every belt change. It has been my experience , that you won't make the second belt change without one of the above crapping out.

 

[seafish]

Also, be sure to at leastcheck ALL of the pullies and bearings that the serp belt runs around for roughness or noise and/or excessive play. When my serp belt went at 55k it was both the alternator pully AND the tensioner that had gone bad, taking the belt with them.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I would post that the belts usually make it a lot further than that but that would invite some blow hard (like HB) to claim his failed after only 12 miles or something.
Sorry, it's been a long day.

 

[DZink24]

i'm just glad it was in the parking lot when it failed, and not at 60 on the road. i immediately shut it off and now it is better, and sounds like it should .