Shredded serpentine belt causes coolant leak

2007 Tacoma, V6, manual.

Just replaced the serpentine belt on Sunday. Ensured it was on the pulleys the right way and sitting properly....no issues.

Just now I walked to my truck and there is a puddle of coolant under it.
Pop the hood and find the outer rib/section (you know how a serpentine belt is rubbed on the inside) has wrapped itself around the fan shaft.
First of all...why the F would a new belt shred like that? Ever happen to anyone before?

There is a drip that I can barely see that is coming from just above the fan shaft. (I'm pointing to it in the picture) I'm not sure what part that is...thermostat housing?, water pump??? I need to check out some diagrams.

In the meantime, any ideas/thoughts why/how the belt ripped in the first place and why/how wrapping around the fan shaft would cause the coolant leak?

I'll post the belt brand when I get home.

 

I had a new serpentine belt come apart. I don't have before and after pictures, but when it was installed it was lined up one groove off on the alternator. The edge of that wheel eventually cut through the belt and it started to fray. In my case, while bits got wound around the fan shaft like yours, my radiator was unscathed. However, I had to replace the front oil seal very shortly after.

 

I just replaced my belt and 2 idler pulleys - no issues. You must have had the belt sitting one rib out of place on one of the ribbed pulleys. That is the only way one rib of the belt would get cut off like that. I did mine from underneath after pulling the skid plate and checked and re-checked alignment before starting the engine.

 

My brother (licences mechanic) and I changed the belt. We are pretty sure it was on all the pulleys properly....that said, even he suggested that a good possibility was that it must have been off just a bit for that to happen.
Either way, it happened.
Now, why/how would it have caused a leak from the area just above the fan shaft??
I'm going to a dealer tomorrow morning to check out some parts diagrams and see what may need replacing.

 

It may have "slapped" against the coolant hose or the overflow canister. Where exactly is it leaking from? The upper section of the radiator or the lower?

 

Likely it was either the wrong belt or installed wrong. I've seen/done both although you instantly know if you watch it when you start the vehicle.

Here is the water pump assembly. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...gOsmkTd7UxhzfuiIpRL1mlZbKnJZg5ZWy1BoCIBHw_wcB

My guess is the binding belt burnt up the shaft seal.

 

It's not leaking from the rad.
See the photo in the first post, where I'm pointing is where it seems to be leaking from.
It's just above the fan shaft, just above where the belt runs.

 

Always use OEM belt...you must have installed it incorrectly. Sounds like your brother the mechanic was off his game during this procedure...

 

OE replacements are fine as well. Just because it's Toyota branded doesn't mean some other company such as Dorman didn't produce it.

 

While I'm not a mechanic this was not my first rodeo and hardly a difficult task...I'm quite confidant the belt was on correctly. But hey, shit does happen as we all know. Still, I'm putting my money on the belt being faulty.

FWIW...here is a pic of the packaging from the belt I just used (and the old belt that I'm keeping for emergencies)

I found the leak. It's from a hole in the hose you see me pointing at in the pictures.

 

That's the oil filter hose correct? I thought you said coolant was leaking?

 

Fairly common.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/wow-fan-belt-shredded-wrapped-around-fan.446275
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-would-cause-the-serpentine-belt-to-break.303023
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/just-lost-my-serpentine-belt.300974
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fraying-serpentine-belt.387478
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-main-oil-seal-and-serpentine-issues.367022

 

No, it's an oil coolant hose.

 

So wouldn't it be leaking oil rather than coolant?

 

No, the oil cooler (silver thing under the filter) circulates coolant. It's a heat exchanger.

 

The hose circulates coolant to the oil cooler. Most automakers avoid running oil through rubber hoses.

 

So not like an AT cooler.

Thanks for the info!

 

Actually a lot like the standard AT cooler built in the bottom of radiators. Except the trans fluid is what moves there, but it's still a form of heat exchanger. But yes, the tow package AT coolers are baby radiators and of course are air heat exchangers.Just more capacity than the std. version.

The under filter oil coolers have been in use for a number of years. I know a few 90's model Hondas and Miatas all had them. Those hoses tend to get ignored during regular cooling system servicing and can create unpleasant surprises sometimes.

 

Well, if you had to have a leak crop up out of the ordeal, yours would seem to be one of the best case scenarios.
I would much rather deal with changing a hose than changing a water pump.

 

Shredded serpentine belt causes coolant leak

As well as power steering leaks.