I just went to get my front right tire replaced, and the guy who worked on it told me I was missing a belt. I told him that everything on the car was working, except the air conditioning. He said it must be a separate belt, but to still get it fixed right away.

I've been researching this tonight, but I can't find information on how my car can run without the belt (!) with seemingly no problems (except no air conditioning) and I'm wondering also if it's expensive to replace. Thank you for any information this forum can provide!

 

I can't think of what a belt drives.

EPS - no power steering pump
All-electric A/C compressor
No alternator - MG1/HV battery/Inverter provide all electrical power
Water pump driven by timing belt.

Then I broke it down to, "Does the Highlander Hybrid have a serpentine belt?"

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/63...tine-belt.html

Nope.

Get a new "guy" to work on it unless he only touches the tires.

"rodonnell" mentions no serpentine belt:

http://forums.edmunds.com/discussion...gine-questions

The Prius only has a belt driven water pump and tensioner, otherwise, it needs no belt.

 

Thank you so much for your response! I went to the links you gave, and a fellow Highlander Hybrid owner had posted that he replaced his timing belt on his. I'm thinking that that must be the "separate" belt that is missing. I called the auto parts store and they said they had the belt, but that i should get the "kit" and replace the water pump, etc. at the same time.

Thanks again for the links, and your help.

 

I think you're missing the bigger picture. You don't have a missing belt. You have a belt that is concealed and not normally visible.

If your belt was missing, the water pump wouldn't be driven, and the car would overheat very quickly.

 

Actually, there should be auxiliary belt. Runs water pump. My 2012 has it.

 

That belt is simply well hidden. Even 2017 models have it. Runs on 3 pulleys - main pulley, water pump and idler/tensioner. .

 

Arise resolved zombie thread! Arise!