can I drive 10 miles without belts?
 

All the belts are off my 300TD and I need to move it 10 miles to finish the job and put new belts on. Will it hurt anything to drive 10 miles without belts? I know I won't have power steering or AC, and the battery won't get charged. I'm mostly wondering about the water pump. It seems that's not driven by a belt, so I should be OK. Or not? thanks. Larry Larson

I would not.

ok, thanks, is there are reason? what would be damaged? Larry

All water pumps I have seen on TD's are driven by belts. I would not do it either.

I think your engine will overheat pretty quickly - I wouldn't chance it. Thermo siphon cooling just isn't going to cut it here. In the end a 10 mile tow is going to be a lot cheaper!

The water pump is driven by two belts. No belts = no water pump.

Can you at least put one of the belts that drives the alternator and water pump? Even an old one? I don't remember if that one drives the fan, but if not you could jumper the electric fan so it runs.

You should have the coolant moving when the engine is running.

It's not only heat, but heat distribution. The engine can take a fair amount of heat if distributed (fairly) evenly by coolant flow.

My belt broke once as I was pulling into work. I also thought that I could get home a fix it. Who needs the alternator?, I was thinking.

I forgot about the water pump. I looked at my gauge on the expressway 6 miles later and it was pegged. I shut off and coasted a while. I pulled into a gas station and called a buddy. He took me to a parts store and I bought a belt. We went back and I put it on and all was right with the world.

What a scare!

I threw a belt on my 240D while on the freeway and drove it another 20 miles to get to my mechanic's who was the closest source for belts on a Saturday morning. If I went any faster than 55mph the engine temp would reach the red but it made it and the car had no leaks or loss in performance in the 10k miles I drove it after that.

But if you can get a ride to get the belt I would definitely do that instead.

I wouldn't do it. Once when my belt broke a few years ago I was able to make it home...

However that was being within a mile of home and even then I stopped after about half a mile because the temperature was starting to rise (It doesn't take long at all) I waited a few minutes for the temp to come down, accelerated and then coasted the rest of the way with the engine off.

Make a duct tape belt if you have to.
I killed my 93 Ranger trying to get to the next exit without a belt, and a friend of mine recently killed his Buick when he threw a belt.

I wouldn't chance it

I would not do it. You'll wreck the engine. The water pump IS indeed belt driven. A half a mile starting with a cold motor driven slowly? 10 miles? Never.

Seriously
 

You can steal a pair of your wifes pantyhose and wrap them around the belt path and tie them. works as an emergency measure, I have done it. No belts is asking for a dead engine. Cheers Dan

The belt drives:
alternator - can do without
compressor - can do without
water pump - can do without if you drive 1 mile and rest for 1 hour
power steering - you may have a hard time steering it. I find it very hard to steer without power steering on a 300D.

In theory, it is possible. In practice, you need to rest and let the engine cools down.

Have you ever thought of using penty hose to wrap round the water pump?:P

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