When I started my 99xk8 there was an awful noise. I shut it off quickly. I can't even say what the noise was like it was so quick. When I restarted it the noise was gone but the dash said battery not charging and the power steering was not working. I shut it off again checked under the hood the belt was still on.I stared it one more time to see if I could move it a few feet and wouldn't come out of park. So I shut it off again and called a friend to look at it. He turned the belt and it had started to strip length ways. He pulled it off guite easily. Should we be able to turn all of those pulleys easily or????

 

The crackshaft pulley cannot be turned by hand, but the others, and the idler and tensioner, should turn freely.

 

Welcome to the forums Gail,

You question suggests a diagram could be useful - especially to work out how to route the replacement belt. There's a lot of pulleys!





As RJ237 advised, the Crankshaft pulley (item 5) will not turn by hand. It's the one that drives the rest when the engine is running. There will be some resistance on the driven pulleys (1, 2, 3 and 7) but they should turn by hand. The idlers (4 and 6) should turn very easily.

A regular cause of the type of belt failure you describe is a worn Belt Tensioner (item 4). This is spring loaded so the arm will move as well as the pulley (clockwise and anti- clockwise direction) but it shouldn't have excessive play away from and towards the engine. A seized Alternator (Generator) bearing is not unknown and can also strip a belt.

The Idler Pulley (item 6) has to be rotated as shown to fit the new belt:





Graham

 

And on a very cold day if the coolant is not up to snuff the water pump can freeze and do the same. Hey, it's winter somewhere!

 

Thank you every one. I had a friend fix it and so far it's working. Looks like an oil leak on a valve cover now that will have to be fixed. I helped my ex work on cars years ago but this one is just a little more complicated then cars from the 60s and 70s. I wasn't looking for a car when this one popped up , I actually was looking for a truck. But I couldn't resist, they're so classy these cars..

 

Good to hear you got it fixed. I've added "RESOLVED" to your thread title.

Graham

 

Glad it's resolved but you didn't say exactly what the solution was. Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks, TM