Depends on how hot and how long it was driven. I am a gauge watcher and have never driven far after a belt failure. If you went 20 or 30 miles and did not notice it you could be in trouble. TELL us more about the actual details of the hypothetical questions. Will I live long enough to type another comment?? Just saying!
If you noticed it quickly you could drain and change oil, check fluids, put on another belt and see if you have blown head gaskets or what ever. More info, better guesses!:lol2::wub:

 

No. It's not like a timing belt. If the serp belt breaks, you will probably hear some noises and loose your power steering, alternator charge, water pump, etc. But that's it's In most cases you just put a new belt on and you're good to go. Mind you check your pullies and tensioner for possible damage or being the cause of the belt breaking.

EDIT: Agreed with above post. I never thought of the possibility of it being driving long after breaking. If it broke and you stopped right away, then you'd be fine. If driving till overheated, then you could be looking at some repairs.

 

belt breaking

because everything is powered by the belt, I would expect that one would IMMEDIATLY know the belt broke, and stop the car within a few hundred feet (if you were on the highway), there would be no problem.

 

I guess the worst thing about the broken serpentine belt is the water pump failure. Now you've go no circulation and you're headed for an overheat situation and maybe a cracked block!

But when that belt breaks, you should see idiots lights appearing on your instrument cluster (charging system, for one ... maybe power steering failure if it's hydraulic?). Plus, you'd notice problems with your steering (if hydraulic), temperature gauge rising (maybe some warning bells indicating the engine is getting too hot).

This is why it's a good idea to get in the habit of noticing if your "idiot" lights are functioning properly each time you start the car. Turn the key slowly, look for all the warning lights to illuminate, then start the car. It's rare that these lights fail, but if they do, you want to get them fixed ASAP.

 

I just recently got a gatorback serpentine belt for my 00 vulcan for a great price from xpress_auto_parts on ebay!!

It fits perfectly and works great.

Just be sure to research the correct belt # before ordering!!

 

Its times like this I like my Gen4 Duratec. The water pump is driven off of the cam, not the serpentine belt. Yes i'll loose the alt & power steering, but I can still make it home.

 

My daughter in a '92 Essex, idler pulley came off and lost the belt. She drove a couple miles to a garage. They replaced the pulley, belt, topped off the coolant. She then drove on and a few miles it literally blew up.

Good belts, are very important.

-chart-

 

It literally blew up?

 

Daughter said, called AAA, tow guy came out and raised the hood, there was oil on the inside of the hood, oil under the car. That is the story I heard. I bought the car with 99K on it and drove it in my work couple of years, then gave to my daughter who drove it couple years in the DEEP rust belt before this.

If the coolant is not circulating, you will have hot spots in the engine, boiling dry and other places not so hot. The temp gage will likely not be in that hot spot and not show hot. Essex is mixed iron/aluminum engine. Circulation is really important.

-chart-
One more with daughters and cars. I have two grown and married daughters.
I have given them my '87, '88, '92, '95 Taurus/Sables when they were well worn.
Now this: older one, same as the one above, I had secured her a '77 Monarch (Mercury) rear wheel drive, 302 with high miles. It had a leaking valve cover and she drove it till it quit. Would not crank. Called a friend and when he got there, they put 4Q of oil in it and it had cooled to where it would start and run. I then traded my '87 Sable to her and took the Merc and fixed the leak. Gave it to my son and he drove it for years and it never had a problelm. You just never know.

 

yes freaking explosion