What would cause the serpentine to not turn on a 1994 Mercury Topaz if all pulleys spin freely when the car is not running?

1. What spins the serpentine belt?
2. What does the serpentine belt control?
3. What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?
4. Do all pulleys spin?
5. Can a bad serpentine belt cause acceleration problems?
6. Can a bad serpentine belt cause a misfire?
7. Can a serpentine belt cause transmission problems?
8. Can a tight serpentine belt cause loss of power?
9. Should tensioner be replaced with serpentine belt?
10. Is idler pulley same as tensioner?
11. How do I know if I need a new idler pulley?

What spins the serpentine belt?

The serpentine belt powers many different parts within the engine. It's connected to the crankshaft, which causes the belt to spin. As the belt spins through the engine, it spins all the pulleys it's connected to. As each pulley spins, it powers the part to which it's connected.

What does the serpentine belt control?

The serpentine belt plays an essential role in running your car's systems, explains TheDrive.com. It powers the alternator, the power steering pump, the air conditioning compressor and, in some vehicles, the water pump. The serpentine belt rotates constantly when the car is running.

What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?

One of the most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.

Do all pulleys spin?

The camshaft and crankshaft pulleys are directly attached to the engine (camshaft and crankshaft) and will only rotate if the engine is running or manually rotating the engine by placing a socket and breaker bar to the crankshaft pulley bolt. ... If you were able to rotate them bare handed, THEN you would have a problem.

Can a bad serpentine belt cause acceleration problems?

Typically a damaged belt tensioner will not impact vehicle performance. It would cause the serpentine or drive belt to wear prematurely or to squeak - but not cause the acceleration issue.

Can a bad serpentine belt cause a misfire?

The belt may oscillate between too little tension and too much tension. The belt will slip and catch, causing noise and vibration. This can cause a change in crankshaft speed that can be severe enough to cause the engine management system to think that a misfire just occurred.

Can a serpentine belt cause transmission problems?

A Broken Serpentine Belt Could Ruin the Transmission

Without the belt running, the water pump won't be able to adequately cool your engine. When the engine overheats, your transmission may be damaged. All engine components, including transmissions, are designed to run well in a certain temperature range.

Can a tight serpentine belt cause loss of power?

The water pump stops working too, so the engine starts to overheat after some time. At a point, the engine will pack up and will require being towed. So yes, a bad serpentine belt cause loss of power.

Should tensioner be replaced with serpentine belt?

When to Replace Your Belt Tensioner

You should expect to replace your belt tensioner in the 40,000-70,000 mile range. It is also customary to swap more than one part simultaneously, usually a worn-out pulley from other systems and even the serpentine belt itself.

Is idler pulley same as tensioner?

The primary distinction between tensioners and idler pulleys is the presence of an adjustable bolt. Tensioners are positioned on the bolt through mounting. Idler pulleys are not mounted to an adjustable bolt. ... However, if bearings fail, tensioner and idler pulleys both require replacement.

How do I know if I need a new idler pulley?

For auditory cues, squealing noise from the engine belt can be a tell-tale sign. As the pulley wears, the engine belt may squeal as it rubs against the surface of the pulley. The issue will worsen with time. Generally, idler pulleys will eventually require a replacement.