I need help belt noise, and something seized!!!
 

i have a 2002 X5 4.4l with 55000 miles.

I get a call from the wife and she said the car went dead while going down the road. She said it made a bad noise before it went dead. She tried to start the car and the noise continued. She shut off the car and so nice peolpe helped her push it into a parking lot. The car was 1/2 mile from the house. I get off work and go see if i can get it home. It was dark by the time I made it there. I checked the fluids, looked for leaks and the obvious stuff. Started it up and sounded like one of the pulleys was seized. I shut if off and waited until today to try to figure out what the problem was.

I get it towed home. I read several threads last night and I was almost certain it was a water pump, or the alternator. i get everything tore apart and I start to remove the serpentine belt. I notice the power steering pump pulley looks like it is sticking out on the bottom. I thought it was just how I was looking at it. I turned all the pulleys and nothing is binding so I crawl up under to take a closer look at the power steering pump and part of the housing is cracked!

Does anybody know what could cause this?

Anybody have an idea??? I really need to know something!

Wow that looks nasty in there. At least you know what to replace.

Could be a number of things. Looks like a straight break. Like you said, something could have seized and the tension broke it. Ir the bearing in the pulley is shot, making the belt run out of round causing excessive vibration, snapping the mount.