Smart Engine Advice?

On Holiday · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:44

Opened up the bonnet today to fill windscreen wiper fluid and saw this.

Car is a SMART ForFour 1.1
Now which belt is it?

Is it safe to drive with? (e.g. I'm driving along, it snaps, will my valves/rods break, or is not not connected to any of them?)

More pics below:

Matt82 · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:47

That will be your aux belt. Drives the alt, pas pump etc shouldn't be valve related. Its very close to death, any idea how old it is?

On Holiday · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:50

Not sure, but had an engine replacement about 5k miles ago with an engine that had 30k?

acemastr · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:54

Be careful it doesn't drive the waterpump, then the valves will be the least of your worries

Howard · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:55

acemastr said:
Be careful it doesn't drive the waterpump, then the valves will be the least of your worries

My thought also. Get it sorted ASAP

Third Opinion · 23 Sep 2012 at 18:56

Looks like an old pair of stockings lol

Matt82 · 23 Sep 2012 at 19:28

looks like its down to 2 ribs from 5.

WOW.

so how did the last engine die?

rodenal · 23 Sep 2012 at 19:34

Get that replaced asap and whilst doing so check all the pulleys / tensioners and immediate areas for anything that could have caused that damage - it's a bit odd to say the least!

On Holiday · 23 Sep 2012 at 20:05

No idea how last engine died, as I bought the car with the engine fault so it was quite cheap, then bought a new engine to be put in it.

Buying a new belt tomorrow and getting it sorted. Hopefully it'll last that long..

Brookert · 23 Sep 2012 at 20:07

Oh my word! :O I've never seen one that bad, it must make a hell of a racket.

[TW]Fox · 23 Sep 2012 at 20:09

How did whoever fitted the new engine not notice that?!

Dogbreath · 23 Sep 2012 at 20:21

The large non-ribbed pulley in the middle looks very much like it's driving the water pump...

DaveyD · 23 Sep 2012 at 20:22

That's terrible!

Perhaps whoever put the engine on either didn't notice, or they put the belt on so badly aligned it's eaten itself in 5k miles!

Change ASAP, as you don't want to risk the belt catching anything when it goes.

On Holiday · 23 Sep 2012 at 21:33

It had been squealing for a second or two a few times in the mornings when starting up, I had put that down to cold weather. Now I think about it though, it has sounded a bit "whiney" lately :/

Only got about 30mins of driving tomorrow (15mins to work in the morning, then 15mins to the garage), but knowing my luck it'll snap on the way to work.

Engine was fitted by Carwood for about £700 too :/

Howard · 23 Sep 2012 at 22:03

It looks to me like perhaps the wrong belt was fitted

Nomisf · 23 Sep 2012 at 22:33

If you do have to drive it before you can replace it, and at any point the battery charge warning light comes on, stop the car straight away. The belt looks like it drives the alternator and water pump, if the charge light does come on it means the belt has let go and your water pump won't be spinning either, so it's only a matter of seconds before it starts to overheat!