Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Issue started today 1/18/17. Car starts fine. Heavy rainfall today. Headlights on, AC on (defog), radio on, wipers on. Power steering temporarily struggles, chirping noise from the front of the car (also temporary). Battery indicator comes on. Turned off AC and radio, battery indicator goes off, power steering resumes, chirping noise stops. Serpentine belt?
My car has 96500 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Have the battery load tested. If you go to a big battery store, they will test the battery for free. If your battery is 5 years old or older, there’s a good chance you need a new battery. Indeed, if you know that the battery is 5 years old or older, I wouldn’t bother with a load test; I would just replace the battery outright. Batteries are a VERY important component in a car’s electrical system. If the battery passes a load test be sure it is NOT a marginal pass in which case you absolutely should install a new battery given the particular symptoms that you are describing and to reduce diagnostic headaches. Once you are confident you have a good (or new) battery, test charging system output which should be around 14.5 volts. If the serpentine belt is original, don’t bother inspecting it, just replace the serpentine belt outright. If, however, at the moment you are just trying to travel 350 miles to complete a trip, visually examine the belt. If the belt is tight (appropriately tensioned) and you do not see any obvious signs of fraying, separation, and so forth you are probably OK for that distance but do get the serpentine belt replaced "soon" if it is original because you are due at 100,000 miles. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Can I Still Operate My Vehicle with a Bad Alternator? While you can technically still drive with a bad alternator, it is not advised. This is especially true in newer vehicle models. This is because there is more electricity involved compared to an older model.
While not recommended, it is possible to drive with a broken alternator—or serpentine—belt, but only for short distances. Should your alternator belt break, the alternator will no longer charge your vehicle`s battery, which means you may lose power at any time.
What happens when alternator stops working while driving? The car tends to slowly lose power if the alternator has gone bad while the car is being driven. You`ll notice the headlights start to dim shortly before the car loses power and dies.
How long will my car run with a broken serpentine belt? There are a few variables involved in the answer, but it should be able to run between 20 to 90 minutes. If it is a hot summer day, your engine can overheat very quickly without the coolant being pumped through the radiator.
If it is left for weeks whilst discharged, it will chemically destroy itself. Just a month without charging (by running the car or with an external charger), this will reduce the life, a few months can ruin it, and a year..
How Long Does an Alternator Last? Alternators have an impressive lifespan of seven years–or between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. But be careful that you are not wearing it out prematurely!
The vehicle may partially function when the belt breaks. but it will typically stall out within a matter of time. The alternator which is charged by the belt power all of the electrical components when the vehicle is running. Once the battery dies, the vehicle will not run.
Your car cannot run with a broken timing belt . By the time the belt snaps, the damage is already done, and you will not be able to drive at all. You will need to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair workshop.
The alternator helps to manage the supply of electricity by recharging the battery. When there is a bad alternator, your car will shut off while driving. This primarily happens as it affects the power supply. Alternator issues will make the engine lose power.
How long can I drive with a squeaky belt? You can continue to drive safely for up to 2 weeks with a squeaky belt. However, it`s best to not delay too long and replace it as early as possible.
A broken serpentine belt may stop the water pump from circulating coolant through the cooling system, causing the engine can overheat.
It depends on what the belt runs. If it runs the water pump you won`t make it more than a few miles before overheating. If the water pump is still good you should be able to make it about 20 miles on a good battery.
If that`s the case, your car`s battery won`t charge properly and there isn`t enough power production to work all your car`s systems reliably. When that happens, the alternator needs to be replaced. It could be around 60,000 miles or less, or it could be more than 200,000 miles.
Alternators can typically last a long time, about seven years or 100,000 to 150,000 miles.
You can expect most alternators to last about seven years, or between 100,000 to 150,000 miles. Keep in mind that certain factors may cause your alternator to wear out more quickly: Harsh driving conditions. Power drain on the alternator.
Alternators can go bad suddenly, or slowly over time. If your alternator is slowly going bad over time there are some warning signs you can look out for.
That`s why it`s recommended that the serpentine belt is replaced early when the squealing symptoms are first noticed. Although it may be safe to drive with the squealing for a few days or weeks, the belt will eventually need to be replaced, and for safety, the earlier it`s repaired, the better.
In your application, which is referred to as an “interference engine”, once it known that the timing belt is defective in any respect, it is recommended that you do not operate the engine at all until the belt is replaced.
Generally, a car battery can run for about 30 minutes to an hour without an alternator, depending on these factors. However, this time can vary widely and is not recommended to be used as a long-term solution.
All that happens when the belt disappears or pulleys seize is the alternator stops turning; there is NO possibility of damage to the alternator. Once you re-apply a new belt, or new pulleys, the accessories start turning again, just like before and the alternator produces current to charge the batteries.
Typically a damaged belt tensioner will not impact vehicle performance. It would cause the serpentine or drive belt to wear prematurely or to squeak – but not cause the acceleration issue.
Squeals and Chirps: The Most Common Serpentine Belt Noises. There are two types of noise that a serpentine belt typically makes. One is the chirp, the other is the squeal. They each are the result of different issues within the front end drive system.
What causes serpentine belts to break? Too much wear due to heat and friction will cause a serpentine belt to break over time. That`s why regular inspections are vital to making sure this doesn`t happen.
How long does a car battery last without an alternator? Without a running alternator, there is no electricity production to sustain normal functioning of the engine and it`s periferals which is around 3 to 5 A. The battery, if new and charged will sustain this for a few hours, maybe even 10.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car not speeding up smoothly, service engine light on when first start driving and car vibrating
ANSWER : Hi There,
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
It sounds like you may have a dirty or faulty mass air flow sensor. The problem this can cause may also be compounded when the engine is cold due to the change in air density in cooler weather. The mass air flow sensor monitors air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the motor. This sensor relays information about fuel and air temperature, air speed entering the motor and many other things to the ECM which uses this to make adjustments to fuel supply to the motor. A dirty or faulty sensor can cause an imbalanced air/fuel load to be supplied to the motor which results in an over fueling or under fueling situation depending on the conditions. This type of inconsistent fuel supply to the motor may cause a hesitation, loss of power, a jerking reaction, potentially a bit of black exhaust smoke and typically a strong smell of fuel when this sensor is malfunctioning. I would suggest having a professional from Your Mechanic come to your home to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Fuel range indicator says I can drive 180 miles until empty. I drive half a mile and the indicator already says 165 miles left. What’s wrong?
ANSWER : This calculation your car performs is a constantly varying calculation due to a couple of things. One part of this calculation is based upon the driving habits of the driver and how the throttle is used in combination with how much fuel is left in the tank. The computer calculates a running average of the fuel used relative to how much fuel is in the tank. As you use more throttle consistently, this average mileage to empty calculation goes down. However, if you feel something is definitely out of the ordinary, have a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your car’s fuel mileage issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
I have a 09 Nissan Altima 2.5 Base Sedan has about 85k miles. After driving the car for about 15-20 on really hot days it starts m
ANSWER : Hi there. In some cases, a problem with the EVAP system; either an EVAP canister or purge solenoid can cause this type of symptom on extremely hot days. Another possibility is that you have an obstruction of fuel somewhere in the fuel system, like the throttle body, fuel injectors or the fuel filter. This could be difficult to diagnose for a professional mechanic as replicating the symptom is going to be difficult; unless it’s a hot day as you indicated. It would be a good idea to have a professional mechanic come to your location to complete a car is making a noise inspection, to isolate the source of that noise – as that sounds as if it’s a loose drive belt or perhaps something internal.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
I have a 2010 Nissan Maxima. My car has 98,000 miles on it. I haven’t had a tune up yet. I can be driving and when I go to acceler
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Your vehicle should not be experiencing any major issues at this point, but that will be determined after an inspection as issues can happen. Your owner’s manual is the best source for letting you know what the manufacture recommends for a 100,000 mile tune-up. It will likely include the spark plugs, oil and filter change, air filter change, and a full inspection of all brakes, suspension, and major engine components. This may also be a transmission issue, and you may want to have your transmission fluid and filter changed as well. For more help, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Whenever I drive 1.5 miles, the s3 light starts blinking and then when I stop my car and come back to it, the car won’t start.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. It is difficult to determine the issue without some more information. To start, when the check engine light illuminates, you want to scan the vehicle for diagnostic codes. These are what set the check engine light off, and are meant to tell the driver what the computer has detected is wrong. Codes can be pulled at most automotive parts stores, and by most technicians. Once you have that information you can focus in on one component or system. If the engine is truly overheating, then you want to start by checking your coolant and fluid levels. For more help with diagnosing and resolving the issue, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
ANSWER : Have the battery load tested. If you go to a big battery store, they will test the battery for free. If your battery is 5 years old or older, there’s a good chance you need a new battery. Indeed, if you know that the battery is 5 years old or older, I wouldn’t bother with a load test; I would just replace the battery outright. Batteries are a VERY important component in a car’s electrical system. If the battery passes a load test be sure it is NOT a marginal pass in which case you absolutely should install a new battery given the particular symptoms that you are describing and to reduce diagnostic headaches. Once you are confident you have a good (or new) battery, test charging system output which should be around 14.5 volts. If the serpentine belt is original, don’t bother inspecting it, just replace the serpentine belt outright. If, however, at the moment you are just trying to travel 350 miles to complete a trip, visually examine the belt. If the belt is tight (appropriately tensioned) and you do not see any obvious signs of fraying, separation, and so forth you are probably OK for that distance but do get the serpentine belt replaced "soon" if it is original because you are due at 100,000 miles. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
Car won’t drive. 2001 Ford F-150
ANSWER : Hey there. This sounds like a transmission problem. You should first check the transmission fluid to make sure it is full and does not have a burnt smell. If it is burnt, then your transmission clutches are bad, and it would need an overhaul or replacement transmission. If you would like to have this checked out by an expert, a certified technician from YourMechanic can inspect the revving issue in person and advise you on the appropriate next steps.
Read Full Q/A … : Can my car drive 350 miles with this issue?
