I have a ford focus (62 plate). In the middle of driving, the battery warning light came on. Then after 2 min, the "engine high temperature" warning came on. Then the car lost power completely. I stopped and after a while, I can still start the car and then the same happened again. The recovery guy came and found there is a belt broken. He said that's the cause of the problem. Is it alternator belt? I can understand the battery is not charging, but why engine overheat and then stop working? I can still start the car and drive maybe a few min, then the same problem would happen again. 

Would replacing the belt solve the problem? I'd like some ideas before the garage had a look at the car tomorrow. 

Many thanks for any advice. 

I assume it's a petrol?  The water pump is run by the auxiliary belt on those so there is no coolant circulating without the belt in place.

thanks Tom. It's petrol. Is it the same as cam belt? I had the cambelt replaced 5 years ago and it should last longer I suppose? Is it an expensive job to replace auxiliary belt? 

 

4 minutes ago, newby2 said:

thanks Tom. It's petrol. Is it the same as cam belt? I had the cambelt replaced 5 years ago and it should last longer I suppose? Is it an expensive job to replace auxiliary belt? 

 

No.  If the cambelt breaks, the whole engine is usually scrap instantly.

Fortunately the aux belt only drives the alternator, AC pump and water pump so not critical.

Should only take a few minutes to fit the new belt.  I'd estimate £50-£100 all in at an independent garage.

But why did the belt break? On my current fiesta the belt broke  because the aircon compressor jammed inside.  If I had replaced the belt without identifying the jammed compressor, it would have broken the new belt next time aircon turned on.  So did it break because it had decayed (they usually last a very long time) or because something else caused it like a jammed pulley