Snapped Fan Belt

[Mini1976]

When driving home today came off the motorway and when sat at the first set of trafic lights noticed some steam coming from under the bonnet. I then also noticed the oil light was on. I pulled over ASAP and took alook. It turns out the fan belt had snapped and the engine was very hot. Howerever there is still oil in the engine so how come the oil light is on? Is it likely to have done any damage,or will it just be a case of repalcing the fan belt and refilling the rad with water?

[eccles]

are you sure it was the oil light?.....the oil light is orange....i'd expect the ignition light to come on if you fan belt breaks, this is red though.

[Mini1976]

Thankyou, i have no idea why i presumed the red one was oil and the orange charge, but i had always thought that.

So now thats sorted is there any damage that im likely to have caused with the excessive heat?

[eccles]

worts case is that you might have warped the head, but you usually have to get them pretty hot for that.

all i'd do is fit a nice new fan belt, check and top up the coolant if it needs it, start your car up and go for a drive, keeping an eye on the temp gauge.
if it stays normal, everything is back to normal, if it starts overheating, and you haven't got any leaks, it's most likley to be your head gasket.