Hello, I am new to this corvette forum. I have read through many posts and everyone on here seems very helpful. I need help!!!!

I had my 1998 Corvette Convertible with 120800 miles shipped to the UK, went to pick it up from the port and when the people went to get my car, they told me the belt came off. I inspected it and the belt seemed fine. I put the belt back on and drove off. Everything was fine car was driving well, then I hit open road on the highway I started to speed up and hit 130, at that point the belt came off. I further drove the car another 10 minutes on the highway, untill the car stopped itself. At this point the antifreeze was all over the place, the car was smoking up. I inspected the belt and it had a slight tear in it, and as before it came off. and the anifreeze was all emptied out!


Furthermore, I should get an award in being an idiot. I towed the corvette tieing a rope to this metal piece that comes out on the bottom, i think that metal piece holds the radiator. I towed the car by pulling it with my friends BMW, all ghetto style with a ROPE!!! WHATS WRONG WITH MEEEEEEE!!! Towed it for 70 miles!, when i get home i see that metal piece all pulled and with it the bumper was all twisted forward. I tried to look under the car and the metal piece i saw holds the radiator and ac condensor was all pulled forward.

Now, there are no corvette specialists here in the UK
What should I do!!!!!!!
I can do some work myself, but i need to know the right way to go about doing it.
SO I took a look at the belt tensioner, the plastic thing is fine, spins fine, but the whole tensioner is pulled maybe 4 millimeters forward, could that be the reason the belt came off>>>?? when i say forward i mean towards the front of the car.

please help me!! i am just trying to give as much information as possible. when i had the car in the us, it drove perfect, i hit 100 it was all good, no problems at all. anyone help!!!!!!!!!!!1

I think pictures might help you help me, let me know how to post them please!!!!!!!!

 

If the tensioner is worn too much then the belt can be throne off. The pivot point is where to check for wear; the arm should not wobble in any position when stressed. At the mileage you state the tensioner could be worn out. The damper is another part to check to see if it has loosened up, wobbles a lot, or is ready to fall off.

 

I had the same problem with the tensioner and throwing the belt. It needs to be replaced and a new belt installed. It's an easy job and while you're at it do the A/C belt and check it's tensioner, also.

 

yeah I put a new be;t on and it got thrown off again. I need a new tensioner assembly, does anyone know where I can get one from??

 

It is very rare that a tensioner or idler will throw a belt... but a common problem with these LS1's is a wobbly harmonic balancer.. this will throw a belt.. BTW it is Not a V belt.. it is a serpentine belt... actually two serp belts.
you have two tensioners and two idlers... I would not just try to replace something to see if it works one set of tensioners and idlers will run close to 75 dollars if you install them yourself. But you have two sets. AS far as buying parts.. See gene Culley at Fred Beans a forum Vendor, or Bob at Ken Fichtner also a forum vendor..
Gene Culley
E-mail Address(es):
gculley@FredBeans.com
Parts Manager
Fred Beans Pontiac Buick GMC of Limerick
40 Auto Park Blvd
Limerick, Pa 19468
610.495.1700
Parts at dealer cost for Corvette forum members but you have to ask for it.

 

Ok, So What Should I Do??

I Know For A Fact That I Need To Change The Serpentine Belt Tensioner, How Would I Know If I Need To Change The Harmonic Ballancer??

I Just Inspected The Air Conditioner Belt And That Has Come Off As Well.

Help Me Please!

 

If you have thrown both belts... the only thing that is common to both is the harmonic balancer.... you can visually look at it and see if it wobbles with the engine running.