SERPENTINE BELT

We were northbound on I-294. I was driving in the right lane, going about 65 mph. It was a clear day. Traffic was flowing well. We were headed toward the Cicero Avenue offramp, which was a couple of miles down the road. All of sudden, it felt like we had run over something. There was a clunk and a clang; a bang and a pop. Because the road was clear, I thought I had run over a plastic bag or something. “Please God don’t let it be an animal.” I exclaimed. I didn’t want to take chances, so we pulled over.

Mr. V looked under the car and saw no debris or anything unusual. “Are you sure there’s no animal parts?!” I asked in dismay. Experiencing that clunk, clang, bang, and pop, made me nervous. It frightened me. I asked V if he thought it was safe for us to drive home or should we call a tow truck? He knew just as much as I did, so I called my son, who said, “If it’s still driving mom, drive it home, and I’ll take a look at it when you get here.”

I was driving a 2002 Chevy Prism. Her name was “Candy the Red Dragon”. She was my sanctuary and rolling temple on road trips. I constantly thank her for getting me safely to and from my destinations. On the dash of the car was a double terminated, Tibetan Tabby Quartz Crystal, for better gas mileage, engine function, protection, et cetera. I call her “Tabitha” or “Tabby” for short. It was a gift from a beloved crystal friend of mine. I always acknowledge and touch the crystal before I drive and express gratitude for its assistance.

Hesitant to go back on I-294, I did what I always do, I prayed out loud. I asked God to protect us and get us back home safely in Candy please. I was a bit on the hungry side, so as I was praying, I asked God if he minded that we take a little detour too on the way home, to get a video and some Taco Bell. (I was craving a Choco Taco.)

I start up the car and we begin driving. I’m nervous, but Mr. V was very calming, telling me “everything would be okay”, and reminding me “the car wouldn’t drive if something was wrong”. We successfully get off the Cicero Avenue offramp. Candy seemed to be driving well. I drive through the Taco Bell drive-thru; go to the Family Home Video; and then straight home. No problems.

My handsome son is waiting for us, and takes a look under the hood, and under the car. “It looks fine to me ma.” He says. “Are you sure son, because that was a loud clunk, clang, bang, and pop?!” He said to me, “Mom, it wouldn’t have driven you all the way home, if something was wrong with it.” Hmmmm… my gut was telling me to get it checked anyway. I always trust my gut. I decided that first thing in the morning, I would take Candy to DeRe Tire on 159th Street. It was just down the block. They’ve always been good to me. 

I call them first and tell them why I am bringing it in. They reply, “Bring it right in.” I do. I explained to the guy at the front desk why I had brought the car in. He was very polite and told me that they would take a good look and take good care of me. Because I had good experiences with them in the past, I felt confident that if something was not right with the car, they would find it.

Later that afternoon, the same gentleman who had greeted me at the front desk called me. He said, “We found out what that sound was. Can you tell me again what happened?” I did. I even told him about praying and asking God to get us home safely. “And you drove your car to our parking lot from where?!” he asked. I responded. He replied, “Ma’am, there’s no way you should have been able to drive that car at all. There’s no Serpentine Belt.” “What’s a Serpentine Belt?” I asked. He explained, “It’s what makes the vehicle move.” He then said, “Tell me one more time what happened.” I did - every detail, the loud clunk, clang, bang, and pop, the prayer, Taco Bell, Family Home Video, and my son.” He replied, “I’m telling you, there’s no way you drove that car without a Serpentine Belt.”

A Serpentine Belt is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine, such as an alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump, etc. The belt may also be guided by an idler pulley and/or a belt tensioner.

Believe me, I asked my son and Mr. V if that were true. They both looked at me in shock. “Are you serious mom?!” my son asked me. He confirmed what DeRe Tire said, “Mom, a car doesn’t move without a Serpentine Belt.”

I gave DeRe Tire permission to replace the Serpentine Belt. In no time, they called me to pick it up. I walked into their shop and was greeted me at the desk by the manager, who asked, “Can you tell my mechanics the story you told me?” Puzzled, I said, “Sure.” Out came all the mechanics. I repeated my story. They all shook their heads in disbelief and said, “There’s no way you should’ve been able to drive your car with no Serpentine Belt. It’s impossible.” Then they eyeballed me up and down, saw my magical walking staff, and stared at me in silent disbelief. They kind of looked spooked honestly. It was a Twilight Zone moment.

Afterwards, I thought to myself, since I drove Candy with no Serpentine Belt, surely that was a miracle! What a blessing! What a testimony to the power of prayer, Candy’s spirit, and Tabby! What a wonderfully magical vehicle I had!

The story doesn’t end there. About six months later, I’m driving down the road and hear a loud clunk, clang, bang, and pop. I’d heard that sound before!!! Virgos remember details like that. I pulled over. Is it happening again?! I prayed. Do I dare drive it?! I hear my son’s voice in my head saying, “Ma! If the drives, it’s okay!” I muster up my faith and drove it directly to DeRe Tire. I wasn’t taking any chances. They remembered me, which made me chuckle because they were very, very, respectful. The same guy greeted me at the front desk. I told him what happened. He stared at me and was very polite when he said they’d check it out and give me a call. I leave Candy there. Sure enough, the Serpentine Belt had snapped off.

When I went to pick her up, the same gentleman who had assisted me the first time Candy’s Serpentine Belt was missing, looked me dead in the eye. He was preparing the paperwork and receipt and said, “Unbelievable. There’s NO WAY you should have been able to drive that car anywhere without a Serpentine Belt, and you did it not once, but twice?!!!” He asked me if I was a witch. I smiled and said, “I’m a God/dess.” They didn’t charge me.

God is good.

Mamakeeya

PS…The Tibetan Tabby Quartz Crystal that was on the dash of Candy is now on the dash of my 2010 Toyota Corolla. My Toyota is called “Candy Star” She is the incarnation of “Candy”. Just as I am an incarnation of “Akeeya”. That crystal is very, very, very, magical. It will clear traffic for me. It will stall time and get me to destinations in half the time, and more… I would highly suggest everyone have one on the dash of their vehicle.