Serpentine belt issues

[Monkey Wrench]

Last week I had my water pump and serpentine belt replaced since the water pump was weeping, and thought I might as well do the belt while they were in there. As soon as I got home I noticed the belt making a flapping sound like it was hitting something. After looking around for something obvious and not finding anything, I took it back to the dealer.

They checked it out and said the belt was installed wrong, and that the power steering pump was destroyed. So they are replacing the PS pump for free since the mistake is on them. Question is, what else could have been ruined from the bad belt install? Alternator, H2O pump, etc...

The Toyota dealer owned the mistake right away and didn't try to charge for the power steering pump, which makes me nervous! What would you do to try to regain confidence in their repair work and with the 4Runner itself? I plan on taking the 4Runner to some very remote places and don't want to have to worry about issues caused by the improper belt install.

 

[TechWrench]

Last week I had my water pump and serpentine belt replaced since the water pump was weeping, and thought I might as well do the belt while they were in there. As soon as I got home I noticed the belt making a flapping sound like it was hitting something. After looking around for something obvious and not finding anything, I took it back to the dealer.

They checked it out and said the belt was installed wrong, and that the power steering pump was destroyed. So they are replacing the PS pump for free since the mistake is on them. Question is, what else could have been ruined from the bad belt install? Alternator, H2O pump, etc...

The Toyota dealer owned the mistake right away and didn't try to charge for the power steering pump, which makes me nervous! What would you do to try to regain confidence in their repair work and with the 4Runner itself? I plan on taking the 4Runner to some very remote places and don't want to have to worry about issues caused by the improper belt install.

It is actually easier to install that belt improperly than one would think. I have seen several people install the belt around the grooved pulleys incorrectly, and the raised edge of the pulley will cut into the belt and destroy it pretty quickly. Because of the grooves, if you get the belt off one or two, it will not self center, but ride in the wrong position until is destroys itself. That is probably what happened at the dealership. The 'mechanic' didn't check his work before sending the vehicle out the door.

 

[Monkey Wrench]

It is actually easier to install that belt improperly than one would think. I have seen several people install the belt around the grooved pulleys incorrectly, and the raised edge of the pulley will cut into the belt and destroy it pretty quickly. Because of the grooves, if you get the belt off one or two, it will not self center, but ride in the wrong position until is destroys itself. That is probably what happened at the dealership. The 'mechanic' didn't check his work before sending the vehicle out the door.

I think you're right. I just got back from the dealership and got the whole story- the belt was snapped in half and wrapped around the power steering pump when they pulled it into the repair bay. Belt must have broke after dropped the 4Runner off since I never heard/felt the belt break, and I've had a belt break while driving before.

So the dealer threw in some free oil changes and a full set of Weather Tech floor mats. They also replaced all of the serpentine pulleys and the tensioner. Can't really complain about getting a free power steering pump out of the deal, too!

 

[TechWrench]

I think you're right. I just got back from the dealership and got the whole story- the belt was snapped in half and wrapped around the power steering pump when they pulled it into the repair bay. Belt must have broke after dropped the 4Runner off since I never heard/felt the belt break, and I've had a belt break while driving before.

So the dealer threw in some free oil changes and a full set of Weather Tech floor mats. They also replaced all of the serpentine pulleys and the tensioner. Can't really complain about getting a free power steering pump out of the deal, too!

It sucks that they made that mistake. Lucky you were able to make it back to the dealership. But, it does seem that they went way overboard in trying to make it right. So, all's well that ends well.