Running without serpentine belt OK?

[vtraudt]

Can I run the car briefly (less than 1 minute) without the serpentine belt on?
I currently don't have the car here, but IIRC, the power steering pump is driven by the serpentine belt (together with alternator and AC compressor), while the timing belt drives the water pump?

Running without the serpentine belt for a few seconds would help me isolate the whining noise I want to tackle next.

[alhoward101]

yeah thats fine, you won't hurt anything. your battery just won't get a charge but a few starts w/o the alt charging shouldn't kill the battery.... if i were you i'd just pay $5 for a harbor freight stethoscope, then you could just leave everything connected and probe around till you found it. btw is the whining noise RPM related?

[vtraudt]

Thanks alohward. Got the HB stetho, but not yet experienced enough to do a lot of analytic work with it. Figure dropping the belt is quick and easy.
Noise is STRICTLY rpm related, NOT PS load (that is why I am questioning if its the pump; normally, bad PS pump whining noise changes with LOAD).
Water pump was (according to the shop worksheet/invoice) change during the timing belt changes (about 10k ago), ditto the usual pulleys of the timing belt.
Alternator making noise (bearing?) noise?

[Ribbie]

If you have the Serp belt off then you rule out anything driven by it. Good trouble shooting.

Yes run it with out. If the the noise is still there, then you are looking at the Timing Belt hardware. WHICH may have had only the belt and pump replaced. Not the idler bearings.