So I was driving down the freeway and my battery light came on. My power steering suddenly went out, stereo shut off, and my temperature gauge went sky high. The car started loosing power and running really bad. I pulled over as soon as I found a safe spot and the car was steaming hardcore from under the hood. I popped the hood up to find that my belt was gone. It was a brand new belt and idler pulley that was replace just 6 hours earlier. What does this mean? Blown head gasket? Is my engine toast? And if my engine is toast should I just pop in a 4.2L since I have a 2001?

 

Sounds like you lost your belt due to a pulley alingment issue or it being loose.

Toss a belt on, charge the battery and make sure you pullies are free spinning. Sometimes a bad pulley will lock up and cause the belt to snap/jump off.

 

I have a new A/C, tensioner, idler pulley, and belt (belt is gone now haha). I can't see it being the crank shaft pulley that's bad. Maybe water pump pulley? Is it worth fixing if it's a blown head gasket? or should I do a engine swap?

 

I would 1st check out why the belt broke, replace same, have a pressure check & block check done @ your local radiator shop unless you have or know someone that has the required tools to do same & keep your fingers crossed the whole time that you didn't blow a head gasket.

Rick

 

Don't jump to such a large step yet. Just put a belt on and find out why it jumped off. Could be something stupid and simple. I wouldn't assume things like head gaskets/crap heads.

 

I would take it back to the place where you just had work done on it. Are you sure(did you see them) they put a belt back on it? I would go back and raise hell, you could even ask for a new engine due to the damage.

 

did you route the belt correctly? was it the right sized belt? did you do it yourself?

as said, get another belt, charge the battery, and and see if shell fire up

 

The place did all the work on my car. I didn't touch anything. Only thing I did was supply the new parts cause it's cheaper to buy them at Kragen than it is for them to buy it for me. I called them today and they towed it for me for free and they said that they will check it out. Should they be liable for any or all damages?

 

If they messed up the install of the belt, they should have to pay. I really doubt there was any major damage.
Was it on the way back from the shop that it happend? If so, I wouldn't be shocked if they forgot to even put a belt on. How long did the car run hot? If not long, chances are slim that any real damage was done.

 

I saw the belt on cause they showed it to me. They said the idler pulley looked like it might be off a bit but said that if it starts making noises then bring it back and they'll figure out the problem.