Originally Posted by trader4 (Post 1011276)

You are pushing your luck. IDK what the bell curve for failure looks like, but the one here went from:

Maybe something is making a noise

couple hundred miles later, something is definitely making a noise

couple hundred miles later, idler pulley sheared off

If it's really screeching loudly, I'd say you're close to the last step
and probably don't have many miles left.

Got lucky though, the only additional damage was loss of both fan belts. I would think it would be real easy to lose the fan, possibly radiator, etc.

Also, I was quite surprised how hard it is to steer without the power steering. Even making a slow turn at a light took a lot of force. And trying to manuver in a driveway, turning, aligning to the garage, Fuggedabowht it! Keep in mind that you also no longer have the water pump running, so don't plan on going far. Lucky here again, the car was only 1/2 mile from home, so got there with no problem.

You might want to consider changing the water pump and/or thermostat if they are original, high mileage, etc. Both of those, you're right there. Radiator hoses too I guess.