Quick car question... (helpful answers get boatloads of casino cash!)
 

I think I know the answer to this, but would like to hear other opinions...

2000 Saab 9-3SE - quick squealing noise then belt snaps... car is driven 2-3 minutes longer and then belt is replaced after checking that all the pulleys turn freely ... fast forward a couple of days and 150 miles ... at highway speed, check engine light comes on and belt squeals... driver pulls over and checks belt and all appears fine .. checks oil and running low (overdue for a change) so adds 2 qts.... starts engine and checks belt again... all pulleys are moving smoothly EXCEPT crank pulley and tensioner pulley seem to have some vibration. Restarts car and "thinks" it is running smoother and no squeals ... but engine light still on...

(all of this info was gathered over the phone)

What is your diagnosis?

Belt too loose.

Engine light separate problem.

I would tend to agree except that the light came on and the belt starting squealing at the exact same time... hard to imagine they are seperate issues.

Borrow a code checker from an auto parts place. Should be an OBD-II vehicle, so you can at least start on what's causing lighting the CEL. You may have a water pump that is siezing-- they are sometimes integral to the crank timing belt. Is it a 4 cyl turbo?

Gonna get the code checked tonight... but was hoping for some input before then...

It is a 4-cyl 2.0L turbo and I will attach a diagram of the pulley layout.

1-grooved idler pulley
2-tensioner pulley
3-alternator
4-crank pulley/harmonic balancer
5-water pump
6-power steering pump
7-a/c compressor

I wonder if the code is from the alternator not charging when the belt was slipping? Is the idler pulley locking up?

Blinker fluid is low.

idler pulley looks fine

water pump, power steering pump, alternator and a/c all look fine as well

crank and tensioner show vibration (I would expect the tensioner to show some if the crank is... since the tensioner is the next pulley down the line from it)

Also... there is a seperate battery light that shows when battery isn't charging.

also, I am not the one driving it and am getting this info over the phone from a girl... so take it for what it's worth... I ASSUME there are no more symptoms but as of now the only FACTS are those I have laid out AND that no other indicators or gauges are out of norm (including temp which I had her keep an eye on)

Are all your belts lubed?

If the belt squeals, it's because it's too loose or because one of the pulleys its routed around are locking up. Could be a bearing in one of the pulleys intermittently seizing. Since it squealed before and then the belt snapped, I'd lean towards a bad bearing somewhere.

Not sure what the engine light is from. Maybe some sort of sensor on the crank, PS, AC or ALT pulleys?

Nah, sounds like a muffler bearing acting up.

You're getting closer to what I think it is...

...and belt could squal from glazing, being loose, pully ceasing OR rubbing up against something...

I knew a girl like that once...