The belt works a few different things under the hood. One of them is power steering, so it might suddenly be very hard to turn the wheel. That's what steering cars was like back in the 1950's and 60's, when I was a kid. No power steering!!

The belt also powers the alternator which makes all the electricity for the engine and functions to work. The batt light came on because the belt broke, and the alternator wasn't powering up anymore. That Batty light worked just like it is supposed to, warning yu that something happened to the charging system. YOu can keep driving on just battery power, for short while, but the spark plugs take power, so eventually, usually about half hour, the car would be very sluggish because not enough power to keep engine running.

So even tho' it seems something horrendous happened to your car, actually it went all according to plan, once your belt broke!! So just get belt fixed and car will be running just fine!!

Relax. You did not hurt a thing. Battery light on because alternator no turning. Hard steering because power pump stopped turning. Replace the belt and everything will be OK. Don't press your luck by driving someplace to get the belt replaced.

so you drove without power steering or a water pump working ? you could have done some serious damage on that one block . overheating because there was no water going through your engine for that one block when the belt that turns the water pump and power steering pump broke

you could be out hundreds or thousands in repairs if you're unlucky instead of a $60 tow bill or a cheap replacement belt

that belt is a pretty important part of your engine . it runs the water pump , steering pump , air conditioning compressor and the fan

I can't diagnose it from here and just saying it won't start tells me nothing . take it to the shop and have them install a new belt if you haven't yet and check it out for you

Since it still drove it wasn't a cam belt so relax.

As power steering no longer working and battery light on! We have likely lost auxiliary drive belt. This isn't a great worry unless damages has occurred to say radiator .

Replacing belt ought to sort issues. We may get fault codes generated ..a scan can reset these.

I have a 2001 ford focus se (2.0 single cam. If that makes a difference) today a belt snapped. I was at the bottom of my street so I just drove it home not even a block. But after it snapped I could barely turn my wheel and my battery light came on. I'm kinda scared to know the answer but what happened? ( I just got my car out the shop n paid 350 $)