Last night I was driving home in my '96 and the "battery no charge" message came on and I lost my power steering. I figured the belt broke. Since I didn't have a cell phone with me and it was getting dark, I decided to just keep going and see how close I could get to the next town before I had to stop because the water pump wasn't working and the car would overheat. The temp gauge kept the normal movement and nothing seemed hot so I went to the next town. I finally made it home and it never got hot. Is the water pump direct coupled internally somehow? It was dark when I got home- I verified the belt is gone, but couldn't see the water pump.
It runs off of a small belt on the "back" of the engine.
Change that one too.
Brian
On Northstar engines, the water pump is on the opposite side of the engine from the accessory belt and is driven by its own belt powered by a pulley attached to the end of one of the camshafts. The belt is partially visible under a protective cover.
Gary McKinney
Those engines can run in limp mode without water for a limited amount of time. When the sensors are detecting a possible overheating situation, speed is limited ans every second spark is fired.
Roger