I just recently replaced the water pump, and the A/C has been doing fine. I left my 90' Cheroke (in6) running with A/C on and went into a store for a minute. I rushed outside when I heard a loud squeling noise. I disengaged A/C and it continued. The belt seemed to be dragging and continued to squeal but there were no cracks or frays atm. There was also very little smoke so I really couldnt determine where the problem laid. What smoke there was was coming from fan area, white.

I started back home and shortly the belt snapped. I pushed it a few more blocks and made it home in one piece just in time before blowing a new radiator. But it didn't, so , thats good. The wheel on the water pump look streaked heavily from the belt and it was coiled around the A/C. When I turned the fan, it seemed to give some resistance but I'm still not sure where the issue is.

Any suggestions? Bad Pulley? I don't think its the Alt, because on initial investigation, she seem to turn over fine. I knew I should have just bought the damn fan clutch.

 

When something seizes up enough to cause the belt to go you should be able to feel it. They all should feel really smooth when you turn them. Check the idler too. Any chance you just had it WAY too loose?

So you can see it was the water pump? If it's free just maybe, outside chance, there is something in there that gets pulled in by the water? (or you got a bad one)

 

Could be a bad bearing on the tensioner pulley that seized.

 

Was thinking the same^, (mine went), cept on the 90 it's just an idler, you tighten it with the PS pump...if your lucky! (has a sort of hidden bolt)

 

^what they said when my alt. when it locked up tighter than fort knox luckily i was in a parking lot and got it turned off before the belt went but it smoked and squealed like crazy

 

Alternator seized! Thanks for lookin guys, I just didn't have time because of work but I'm pulling it in a day and hopefully my mech will find me a replacement.