Can You Still Drive If the Car's Alternator Belt Breaks?

[KatherineDella]

You can still drive if the car's alternator belt breaks, but not for long, as the vehicle will then be running on battery power instead of being supplied by the alternator. The alternator belt in cars is typically a V-belt that connects three components: the engine crankshaft, water pump, and alternator. If the alternator belt breaks, the water pump will also stop working. Continuing to drive for an extended period under these conditions can prevent the engine coolant from circulating and cooling the engine, potentially leading to a blown head gasket. The car's alternator is the primary power source, responsible for supplying electricity to all electrical devices and recharging the battery while the engine is running. In standard alternators, the three-phase stator windings are enhanced with additional winding turns and extra connection points, along with an additional three-phase bridge rectifier. At low speeds, the output comes from both the original and additional windings in series, while at higher speeds, only the original three-phase windings provide the output.