Whats the problem with my truck? 1998 Toyota Tacoma

so im driving and my alternator belt brakes.. i continue to drive it home then starts to pop and putter, get up the next day (it was night time when it broke) i wake up go get new belt, change it and its still popping and puttering

My car has 266000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello – you may have an overheated engine, with a blown cylinder head gasket (or other overheating damage) or simply a run-down battery. The same serpentine belt that drives the alternator also drives the water pump. Depending on how long you drove after the belt failed, the engine may have overheated – with some damage. I recommend an engine inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

If your serpentine belt is failing, you may notice performance issues with your vehicle. The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly. You may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt.
As we mentioned early, a serpentine belt delivers power to your alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor. In some cases, it also supplies power to your water pump. It`s a long, winding rubber band of sorts that is attached to your crank pulley.
Serpentine belts are built to last—much longer than before because of advancements in rubber technology. Under ideal conditions, a belt should stick with you for an average of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
If your serpentine belt wears out, becomes damaged or contaminated, or breaks, engine accessories will not be able to spin at the proper speed, leading to decreased power to the electrical system.
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.
The water pump keeps coolant running consistently through the engine block, hoses and radiator, ensuring that everything is kept at a safe temperature. Without a correctly running water pump, your engine will overheat in the summer or freeze in the winter.
How long does a serpentine belt last? Being made of durable rubber, a serpentine belt can last anywhere from around 50,000-100,000 miles. Learn when to replace a serpentine belt and more with the service center at Westbrook Toyota.
A worn, defective, or incorrectly tensioned belt can lead to battery failure and engine overheating.
While the water pump is designed as a cooling system component in charge of preventing the engine from overheating, it is driven by the timing belt and it derives its power from the crankshaft of the engine.
The short answer is yes, your car will start even if the serpentine belt is broken or missing. To get the car going, the battery sends power to your starter motor. The starter motor provides enough power to get your engine moving and the combustion process started.
Loosing the serpentine belt should not affect the engine timing.
The serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt that drives multiple devices in your engine, such as the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and air conditioning compressor. If your serpentine belt breaks, all of these systems will shut down and your vehicle will overheat.
A bad timing belt can also be the cause of sluggish acceleration. This is a belt that is responsible for synchronizing the movement of the engine`s valves. If it is not working properly, then the engine will not be able to function correctly and it will cause the car to move slowly.
A worn timing belt will affect your engine`s starting speed as it is attached to the pulleys that drive the crankshaft. Eventually, the belt can slip on the camshaft drive causing the engine cylinder to open and close at the wrong time.
Engine Misfiring

The timing belt is responsible for synchronizing the valves and cylinders in your engine. If it slips too far or falls off the pulley system, it may cause one of the cylinders to open or close too early. This will cause a misfire, and a noticeable loss of acceleration.

Common problems include overheating, leakage, low water pressure, noisy operation, and cavitation. These problems can be prevented or fixed by regular maintenance, inspection, and replacement of worn-out parts.
Water pumps can fail prematurely due to corrosion inside the cooling system or from an imbalanced water-pump shaft. But in most instances, water pumps fail because of shaft leaks.
The coolant that may have leaked from the water pump could have gotten into the alternator which could short it out. You should test the alternator and recharge the battery.
An alternator belt is known by many names including the drive belt, fan belt, v-belt or a serpentine belt. Made of rubber, the belt is prone to deterioration over time, and due to its position next to the engine, excessive heat and general wear will lead to a brittle drive belt that is prone to cracking.
Belt drive turntables, reportedly, produce better sound quality. Because a belt drive reduces vibration noise, a record player`s sound can be cleaner. Many record player owners, in fact, focus on motor noise reduction as a priority. The more a record player`s feedback noise is reduced, the clearer its noise is.
Today, most serpentine belts are expected to last anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Some belts can last significantly longer than this, while others give out before 60,000 miles.
They`re usually good for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Even so, don`t neglect your car belt maintenance. It`s still a good idea to have a mechanic check the belt from time to time. Usually they`ll do this as a courtesy if you`re in for an oil change or other servicing.
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.
If the belt is too loose or slips this could force the engine to stall or shut down. This could be very dangerous if the car is on a busy road or motorway. i The car battery is dead. If the issue is severe, the battery will not be able to maintain its charge and could die shortly after the car has been started.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I parked my truck for 5-10 mins. Tried to turn it on, now it wont start, called a tow tow truck 15-20mins later my truck turned on
ANSWER : It is very likely that you have a powertrain control module failure. This can happen often on many GM vehicles. I would recommend having the powertrain control module tested and replaced as necessary in order to resolve this issue. After the powertrain control module is replaced, a reflash procedure will be required so that the vehicle can relearn all of its primary engine data. Once the reflash is completed, your vehicle should no longer have this issue.

I have a 1998 ford ranger(AT) its shifting roughly, when i come to a stop, the truck wants to keep going, and as a result, the truck stalls out.
ANSWER : The torque converter clutch is not releasing as the transmission is shifting. Try pulling the fuse to the torque converter labeled as TCC and see if the symptoms change. If the vehicle stops acting up, then the torque converter clutch solenoid is active and not releasing. If the symptoms are the same, then the torque converter clutch is melted and needs replaced (torque converter replacement). If you need further assistance with your transmission shifting hash and stalling, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Whats the problem with my truck? 1998 Toyota Tacoma
ANSWER : Hello – you may have an overheated engine, with a blown cylinder head gasket (or other overheating damage) or simply a run-down battery. The same serpentine belt that drives the alternator also drives the water pump. Depending on how long you drove after the belt failed, the engine may have overheated – with some damage. I recommend an engine inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

I had my truck towed on a flat bed tow truck and now it is vibrating really bad and it sounds like my tires are howling
ANSWER : The problem sounds like you have flat spots on the tires in the rear when the tow truck operator dragged and pushed the truck with the transmission locked. I would recommend having a vehicle safety inspection to see if there is tire damage or other possible damage done by the tow truck. Have a mechanic from YourMechanic come and do the inspection and check the problems for you.

We have replaced the compressor in my husband’s Toyota Tacoma 3 times in as many years. What could cause them to keep failing? 2001 Toyota Tacoma
ANSWER : Hello – when the AC compressor fails, it can deposit a fairly large amount of metallic debris throughout the AC piping and components. It is VERY difficult, even with chemical flushes, and added filters, to get all the grit out of the system. The result is that the new compressor has to deal with metallic debris, which can quickly trash a new compressor – spreading more junk into the system. Replacing the dryer, metering orifice, or evaporator control valve, and thoroughly flushing the system with appropriate fluids meticulously is the only solution. I recommend an AC compressor replacement by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, and carefully rebuild your AC system.

Truck horn is beeping without truck being turned on. Why?
ANSWER : The problem is in the horn pad. The horn pad may be damaged or changes in temperature can cause the contacts to touch in the horn pad causing the horn to beep. you may need to call the company to come and fix it or remove the horn fuse until it is fixed.

I have a 2002 toyota camry LE engine wich i want to use on a 2004 toyota camry XLE .is my 02 toyota camry engine compatible ?
ANSWER : Hi there. Assuming that both engines are the same size, the compatibility of "fitting" should be OK. However, since this is a service we don’t offer, we’re not best suited to provide the best advice on this. I can tell you that a common problem have with replacing motors is communication with the ECU. In most cases, it will require reprogramming by a specialist in order for all the systems to work correctly.

When I cut ac on my truck idle goes down two or three times the truck stalls
ANSWER : The first thing to do is disconnect the A/C compressor and then turn on the A/C and see if the engine still stalls. If it still stalls, then you have a problem with idle control circuit and would need further diagnosis. If the engine idle goes up, then connect the A/C compressor so it kicks in and see if it kills the motor, then you may have a compressor locking up and stalling the motor. The A/C pressures will need to be checked and monitored to see if the high pressure goes too high indicating an A/C problem that will need a mechanic to diagnose in person to see what is causing the A/C pressures to be so high. If you need help with this, have a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your truck’s stalling issue and let you know what needs repair.