I have a car dilemma guys and need help. We had a lot of snow dumped on us yesterday and while trying to drive up my hill last night, my car let out that familiar screeching sound that we've all heard from other cars. Then I start to smell this burning smell and see some smoke coming from under the hood, but it was too dark out to see anything under there. My voltmeter was reading low. Needless to say, after a couple tries to get up my hill I just parked the car and walked. I just got back from looking under the hood and there is some black powdery residue scattered around the front of the engine mostly by the alternator. The past couple days prior, there has been a whining sound coming from under the hood. What happened here? And would it be safe to start the car right now? Thanks for any help.

 

sounds like your alternator may have locked up. pull the belt & try to turn the pulley on it. if it doesn't turn or doesn't turn smoothly its toast. if it does turn ok, check the other pulleys. also, check the belt tension, a worn belt or bad tensioner can cause the belt to slip.
if you do find something has locked up or the tensioner is bad, you will need a new belt with the replacement part.
if it is a frozen alternator or 1 of the other accessories, you can start the car, but i would not let it run for more than a minute or so.

 

OK thanks, I'll do that. But what's up with the black powdery stuff all over?

 

belt material... it's made of nitrile (rubber) and other compounds. Rubs like a pencil eraser in a case like this.