Prognosis please

[jedders62]

First of all my apologies, since the only time I visit seems to be when I have a problem & need to take advantage of other peoples knowledge.(sadly I have precious little of that to share with you).
On her drive home last night my wife heard a loud bang from behind the drivers seat & at the same time a "warning battery generator" light came on on the dashboard.She immediately pulled over but since we live in the wilds of N.Yorks & she did not have a phone with her she made the decision to drive the rest of the way home, approximately 1 mile.
She noticed the engine temp rising so made frequent stops to allow the engine to cool & told me that the steering was extremely heavy.
On checking the handbook it would appear that a drive belt has snapped but I wonder if anyone could tell me whether that mile or so without it will have done much harm & if it has do you think the OPC might use it as a lever to avoid a warranty claim?

Jeremy

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Questions are good []

As you say, looks like the accesory belt has snapped.

I think you should be ok - but is anyone knows better please jump in!

 

[marlin]

unlikely to have caused any further damage[]

 

[jedders62]

Thanks for the replies so far, just a brief update.
The car has just arrived at the OPC although they have told me that they will not get a chance to look at it until tomorrow. I asked the service guy for his opinion(big mistake) & he told me that if it is a drive belt it could have caused major damage, possibly requiring a new engine!
Merry Christmas one & all.

 

[Bull996]

I reckon that if it has kanckered your pistions you would know.

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

I asked the service guy for his opinion(big mistake) & he told me that if it is a drive belt it could have caused major damage, possibly requiring a new engine!

Might as well have asked the cleaners the total tonnage of what a service receptionist generally knows about the workings of the oily bits could be written on a postage stamp I kid you not. Good luck []

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Thanks for the replies so far, just a brief update.
The car has just arrived at the OPC although they have told me that they will not get a chance to look at it until tomorrow. I asked the service guy for his opinion(big mistake) & he told me that if it is a drive belt it could have caused major damage, possibly requiring a new engine!
Merry Christmas one & all.

It must be true then! [&:]

 

[jedders62]

Thanks everybody.
I'm relieved that we all share the same high opinion of OPC personnel[]

 

[daro911]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Thanks everybody.
I'm relieved that we all share the same high opinion of OPC personnel[]

No substitute for personal experiences [] No Pain No Gain for the OPC

 

[Dapster]

Your car's a 987 isn't it? In which case is it still under warranty, and if so, is the drive belt covered. If it isn't covered, you may still be able to leverage the fact that a drive belt shouldn't give way on such a young engine.

 

[jedders62]

Thanks Dapster.
I'm sure the drive belt & any resulting damage will be covered under the warranty it's just that, being of a cynical nature when it comes to OPCs, I can see them using the fact that the car was driven, when the handbook says that it should not be, as a get out if things begin to look expensive.
Fingers crossed that I'm just getting too pessimistic for my own good.

 

[Glyn]

The auxillary belt drives the water pump, power steering, air con, alternator - nothing vital for the short distance
All you get is heavey steering, warning light on as the alternator is not charging, no air con and a rise in water temperature.
With the water temperature being the most important, providing it did not boil up then all is well,


Glyn

 

[edgiee]

May be a naive question, but if the serrvice intervals are followed correctly (and at an OPC) and the drive belts are changed at the required intervals, shouldn't this type of failure be covered under a general guarantee, even when the standard warrany period has expired?

 

[sailor]

Think not. My alternator belt snapped at 46 thou, car four years old. OPC wouldn't renew it for free.
The dashboard didn't half look pretty with all those coloured lights on.

JohnC
993turbo

 

[jedders62]

Thanks everybody for the replies.
The OPC have told me today that the water pump is definitely US. They are going to put a new one on tomorrow or thursday to see if the head gasket has gone as well but either way it is covered under warranty. Porsche recommend replacement of the drive belt at 30,000 miles, my car has been serviced at the correct intervals by the OPC and has covered only(?) 27,000 miles so I've just pipped it & may even have it back for Christmas.
Despite this latest problem I must say that PorscheAssistance have been excellent,recovering the car & getting it to the OPC quickly, offering to reimburse my £45.00 taxi fare to work as they could not arrange a hire car on Sunday afternoon, delivering me a hire car on monday morning(albeit a Merc) & generally making the breakdown as painless as possible.
It now only remains for the OPC to do their bit.

 

[Mark_Bennett]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Porsche recommend replacement of the drive belt at 30,000 miles,

48,000 on the 986 if I recall correctly [&:]

 

[JCB..]

ORIGINAL: Mark Bennett

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Porsche recommend replacement of the drive belt at 30,000 miles,

48,000 on the 986 if I recall correctly [&:]

You do indeed!

 

[jedders62]

Well my 987 handbook says 30,000 so I guess that's progress.

 

[Dapster]

ORIGINAL: jedders62

Well my 987 handbook says 30,000 so I guess that's progress.

So how does that work exactly? With 20,000 service intervals and no "annual inspection" option on a 987 what do you do?

 

[jedders62]

I must admit Dapster that was my thought too & I intend to go through the handbook to see if there are any other items whose replacement intervals may fall between services.