Can You Still Drive If the Car Compressor Belt Breaks?

[DiTeagan]

The air conditioning belt only drives the air conditioning compressor, so if it breaks, it will not affect the normal operation of the car. However, prolonged driving can prevent the engine coolant from circulating and cooling, which may lead to cylinder head gasket failure, and in severe cases, cause engine bearing or cylinder damage. Here is some relevant information: 1. Consequences of air conditioning compressor belt breakage: It may affect the movement of the intake and exhaust valves, causing them to collide with the pistons, resulting in damage to both. 2. The main function of the accessory belt: It provides power to devices such as the alternator and air conditioning compressor through rotation. If the accessory belt breaks, it may also affect the water pump, causing the temperature of the water in the car's radiator to rise, which is quite dangerous.

[Edith]

Last week, while driving to the county town, my car's AC suddenly stopped cooling and I heard strange noises. Pulling over to check, I found the compressor belt had snapped. An experienced driver taught me: if the belt only controls the AC, you might barely make it to the repair shop, just enduring extreme heat. But if that belt also drives the alternator and water pump, it's seriously dangerous! The engine could overheat due to lack of coolant circulation, and the battery would drain rapidly. I got lucky - my pickup truck had a dedicated belt system and managed to limp 20 kilometers to the repair shop, though the steering felt increasingly heavy. My sincere advice: if this happens, pull over immediately. Don't risk destroying your engine just to save on tow truck fees.

[OAmy]

The old family car also had its compressor belt snap last summer. My dad said the key is the car's design: many modern vehicles share a single belt for the alternator, water pump, and compressor. If it breaks, immediately turn off the engine and call a tow truck! Otherwise, the temperature gauge will hit red within minutes. My car has an older design with a separate belt for the AC. Although I was sweating profusely, I could still drive slowly to the repair shop. I was constantly worried about other systems failing, like the battery light suddenly coming on. Now, before driving, I always check the belts for cracks. After all, replacing a belt costs just a few hundred bucks, which is better than breaking down halfway.

[HarperLynn]

A friend who has run an auto repair shop for over a decade says handling a broken compressor belt depends on the situation. For models with shared belts, you must not restart the engine—otherwise, the alternator will stop within five kilometers, draining the battery, and the water pump will fail, causing engine overheating. However, if it's an independent belt design, you can drive slowly to the repair shop. Just keep the speed below 60 km/h to avoid extra strain on the engine. He recommends keeping a temporary spare belt in the car for emergencies—most car owners can replace it in half an hour, much faster than calling a tow truck.