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Everything in the engine compartment looks fine. The belts all align properly and there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with any of the pulleys, plus the tension on the belts is good. Everything runs fine until I accelerate and then I get some squeaking/squealing and I smell burning rubber. I open the compartment and there is a rubber burning smell, a little smoke, and you can see rubber "powder" where the belt is obviously being torn up. It appears to be the alternator belt, but there is no visible sign other than the rubber powder. Without the belts on everything spins freely and quietly. I am a loss on this. Any ideas?

One thing I did notice, and this is a long shot, it that when trying to replace the thermostat I found it tucked up inside the thermostat housing and I am having a heck of a time getting it out. Any chance that the thermostat was the wrong size and eventually slipped up in there and is restricting water passage and causing the water pump belt to slip under the strain of trying to move water that is being restricted? I know its a long shot, but everything else looks fine.

Thanks for your help.

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

How old are the belts ? its possible they are hardening with age, you could try some belt dressing on them

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1989 245 vista
5.7 cobra

Take the old alt belt down to NAPA (or Autozone/CARQUEST/etc) and get a new one. Put it on and see if that works. I recently had the same thing happen, and even tho everything "looked" fine, my alt belt was worn, and subsequently broke into 2 pieces.

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Thanks guys. The belts are probably a few years old, but I cannot remember exactly when they were changed. It has to be the belt since everything else is fine.

As far as the thermostat goes, it was tucked up inside the housing, but it turns out that is the way it is supposed to be. I took the housing off and the thermostat was help in place by an o ring that fit into a groove. I replaced it but I am certain it has nothing to do with my belt issue. I will get a belt this week and let everyone know what the results are.

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Steve K
1993 Four Winns 210 Horizon
5.8L EFI OMC

Just had an episode with burning belts. The Marine shop "fixed them" twice, but never got the tension right. They were loose, hence the burning smell and I had white smoke and soot wafting from the engine compartment.

Replace them SOON. If they are burning they likely already have cracks and may be ready to break. That won't be fun.

Mark

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Four Winns 1996 Sundowner 205
5.0fi/SX engine (Volvo Penta)