Well, I got left walking yesterday. That hasn't happened to me in a long time. I was on my way home from college and the belt on my van spit apart and came off all the pulleys. There I was on the side of the highway with no cellphone, no CB, and no ham radio to call for help with. That is not a good scenario for a good looking fat guy such as myself! Fortunately, I was close enough to an Alcoa factory that I was able to get some help. It cost me $130 to get my van towed home. The crazy thing about it is that the belt is brand new. The mechanic installed it when he gave the van a tune up last week. I've never seen a brand new belt split apart that way. Neither has the mechanic.

I guess it's partly my fault that I ended up stranded. I used to be pretty **** about keeping a set of tools, extra belts, and other things that can go out without warning in my vehicles, but I've gotten lazy about it the last few years. Needless to say, a pre-paid cell phone, a cheap set of tools, some radiator fluid, a couple quarts of oil, and an extra fan belt are on this weekend's shopping list!

 

Once again you don't say what year/model vehicle you're driving so was it a serpentine belt or a V belt?

Along with your list make sure you have a cell phone CHARGER that stays in the vehicle whether the phone is there or not. Change phones, change the charger. Make sure the power outlet for all that is working too!

You just can NOT carry enough extra stuff with any vehicle or failing that a AAA membership card and the cell phone. Whenever I'm traveling more than 50 miles from home I take my Milwaukee 28 volt 1/2" impact gun in case of a flat tire----nothing quicker and easier when standing along side the freeway.

Tough luck on the walk home!

 

JWA, I only have one van. It's an '89 E-150 with an I6.

Along with the cellphone and various auto-related supplies, I am going to get off my duff and install one of my ham radios and a CB in this van. I am too old and cranky to have to be stuck on the side of the road without having a way to get help quickly. My ham buds have been raggin me all day because I didn't have one of my radios in the van. We're supposed to be prepared in case of emergency. LOL!

 

I usually carry with spares of any small parts that might leave me stranded.

I also do my own repairs so if it kicks off a new belt I can only complain to myself!

 

Just say what you've got---that's helpful and not too many of us are going to remember everyone else's vehicles.

Be prepared---it works for the Boy Scouts----can't hurt us either!

 

Had something similar happen once. New belt lasted one day after I installed it. Of course it was the first time I had ever changed a belt and it was on my very first car. AMC Hornet (Green). Also left stranded on the side of the road without a cell phone. They hadn't been invented yet.

 

For all the breakdowns I've had never a broken belt---knock on wood! The two used E250's I've purchased received new NAPA serpentine belts ASAP. Not sure if this alone has prevented anything but its good for piece of mind.

It's a bit surprising a few have dealt with the belt issue---wonder if it was a bad belt or perhaps faulty installation?

 

I've never had one let go either. But I do remember when I was a lad, the prepared vehicle owner always carried an extra fan belt. No one does that anymore. I figure they are probably a lot higher quality now and not really subject to breaking, unless a pulley is bent or mis-aligned or something.

 

My vans have left me stranded twice -- strangely on the same NYC block -- Park Avenue between 81st and 82nd Street. For those of you who don't know, this is celebrity row, white-glove doormen, and several CEOs of major Wall Street banks live there. (I don't live there of course). It was funny -- here was my bear-van blocking limos from going anywhere -- twice. What are the odds for that?

Once was the transmission, which I knew it was coming. the second time, I also knew it too, when tie rod snapped and wheels turned onto each other. One tow was no problem. The 2nd time it ended up costing the tow company's insurance about $ 2000 in damage for ripping the front skirt and backing my van into another one when unloading it at the shop.

 

Well, I got the van back on the road a little bit ago. Actually, my son did. I sent him to the auto parts store, he got the belt, and put it on for his old man. I have a good son.

 

OMG this reminds me of a towing accident.........

Several years ago was headed home in an '88 E150 cargo van stuff full of guitars, amps and other muscial equipment, about 140 miles one way. Sunday evening, winter time cold and raining when suddenly the blue bomb just flames out at 70 MPH middle of the freeway. Limped it to the side with no idea what was wrong. Plenty of fuel, regular maintenance by a trusted competent shop---complete mystery.

Friend riding along had a cell phone but had left it on all day so the battery was dead. Lighter port not working, nearest pay phone visible at a truck plaza about a mile ahead. Friend was suffering from "lower bowel distress" along with an injured back so off I trek. Collect call to the van & music store owner who dispatches a tow truck from home, a mere 100 miles or so.

Tow truck arrives about 3 hours later, hook us up and three fools on a bench seat in a buckboard riding huge tow truck. Absolutely no incidents the whole way home UNTIL the driver is trying to back the dead van into my drive way a bit too quickly. Jack knife accident wrinkles the left rear corner, slightly tweaking the doors----at least at first glance.

Tow company sends their insurance adjuster, we talk and she points out the entire left side had also been wrinkled so it was a total loss to them. They'd pay blue book of about $3500 less $250 buy back and $500 deductible tow company carried. Owner used most of the proceeds to buy his finacee a wedding ring.

We drove that van another 3 years with no problems apart from the unsightly dent. After it was retired from the music store I bought it for $200 and used it 2 more years as my glass vehicle. The 6 cylinder motor did NOT like the high idle times due an oiling problem at low rpm's so it was time to let it die gracefully. Gave it to the trusted competent shop for recycling and that's where the story ends.

Gotta watch those towing outfits!

 

Very good point.

In my the case of my incedent, the tow truck towed my van with rear wheels on the ground. Although the shop that it was being towed to was about 2-3 miles away, I told the driver I did not like it. It was past midnight (I had broken down at 11 pm) and was too tired to send him away and wait for another one. He ended up ripping up the front/bottom skirt.

Furthermore, when unloading at my mechanic's shop (which is also a Getty Gas station), driver was on the phone the entire time, while winching it down. I was watching in the rear and started yelling at the driver to stop and ran to him. He was totally aloof and on the phone.

Because of the accident, Gas attendant called police. They asked me and I told them the truth of course, including that the driver was on the cell phone at the time. Driver was kinda upset, but I told him he was lucky this was the only thing I did to him. Come to think of it, although the paint shop fixed it as much as they could, they could not duplicate the custom graphics on the van.

Here are some photos Picasa Web Albums - Henry Simone - 1995 E-150 to...