Is the water pump driven by the serpentine belt?
Another important device driven by the serpentine belt is the water pump. This is not always the case as on a lot of cars the water pump is driven by the timing belt. You should have this in mind so you don’t falsely “accuse” the serpentine belt for overheating.
When to put a new serpentine belt on a car?
A good mechanic would make sure everything is rotating freely before putting the new belt. I find it hard to believe the shop didn’t check the water pump – the serpentine belt drives the water pump, alternator, power steering pump, and A/C compressor. If the water pump is frozen, likely it would at least break/throw the serpentine belt.
What causes a serpentine belt to get stuck?
The main reason, in most cases, will be a stuck pulley from one of the devices (alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump etc) or a tensioner. A stuck pulley is mostly caused by a worn out bearing. The belt slides over a motionless pulley causing extensive friction, heat and the recognizable sound.
What did the serpentine belt break on my son’s Chevy Lumina?
The serpentine belt in my son’s 1999 Chevy Lumina broke. The repair shop replaced the belt and the tensioner. $180 repair bill. The night he got the care from the shop, the belt broke again. This time, they said the water pump froze up, broke the serpentine belt and bent the pully on the tensioner. $275 to fix it this time.
Another important device driven by the serpentine belt is the water pump. This is not always the case as on a lot of cars the water pump is driven by the timing belt. You should have this in mind so you don’t falsely “accuse” the serpentine belt for overheating.
A good mechanic would make sure everything is rotating freely before putting the new belt. I find it hard to believe the shop didn’t check the water pump – the serpentine belt drives the water pump, alternator, power steering pump, and A/C compressor. If the water pump is frozen, likely it would at least break/throw the serpentine belt.
The serpentine belt in my son’s 1999 Chevy Lumina broke. The repair shop replaced the belt and the tensioner. $180 repair bill. The night he got the care from the shop, the belt broke again. This time, they said the water pump froze up, broke the serpentine belt and bent the pully on the tensioner. $275 to fix it this time.
The main reason, in most cases, will be a stuck pulley from one of the devices (alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump etc) or a tensioner. A stuck pulley is mostly caused by a worn out bearing. The belt slides over a motionless pulley causing extensive friction, heat and the recognizable sound.
What causes a serpentine belt to break off?
When a serpentine belt breaks it’s usually because the belt just wore out, or that the tensioner (which to me is the “weak link” of the various pulley-equipped items the belt drives)–that the tensioner went out of alignment, or that the spring in the tensioner, which keeps the belt taught, just rusted up and stopped putting tension on the belt.
Why does my serpentine belt make a screeching sound?
The belt slides over a motionless pulley causing extensive friction, heat and the recognizable sound. The screeching sound may also be caused by a severely worn out serpentine belt (in this case, it must be nearly pulverized).
Why do I have problems with my serpentine belt?
Serpentine belt problems usually result from one of three causes: a defective belt tensioner; misalignment of a pulley; or, defective bearings in the tensioner, idler, or one of accessories driven by the belt (including the water pump). Fortunately, the belt can help you diagnose the problem, both before you remove it and afterward:
When to replace idler pulleys, tensioner and water pump?
Generally, the idler pulleys, tensioner and water pump should always be replaced when the timing belt is replaced. In most cases, the timing belt drives the water pump, so it is the right time to replace the water pump. It is also recommended by the manufacturer. WORD TO THE WISE.
How much does it cost to repair a serpentine belt?
The repair shop replaced the belt and the tensioner. $180 repair bill. The night he got the care from the shop, the belt broke again. This time, they said the water pump froze up, broke the serpentine belt and bent the pully on the tensioner. $275 to fix it this time. Does this sound right? galant July 6, 2016, 12:25am #2
Can a water pump rotate without a pulley?
Water pump pulleys are designed to be driven by a drive belt or serpentine belt. Without a pulley, a water pump will not rotate unless it is driven by the timing belt, timing chain, or an electric motor.
How do you remove a serpentine water pump belt?
If it is a serpentine belt, remove the belt by using a breaker bar and turning the tensioner to relax the belt. If the vehicle has a v-belt, loosen the tensioner to relax the belt. Step 6: Remove the belt or belts from the pulleys. Step 7: Locate the tensioner to the belt.
How can I tell if my water pump belt needs to be replaced?
For v-belts, check the tension to see if it is still at the width of the belt or about a 1/4 inch. If your vehicle continues to make noises after replacing the water pump belt, then there may be further diagnosis of the water pump belt needed or a possible belt tensioner failure.
When a serpentine belt breaks it’s usually because the belt just wore out, or that the tensioner (which to me is the “weak link” of the various pulley-equipped items the belt drives)–that the tensioner went out of alignment, or that the spring in the tensioner, which keeps the belt taught, just rusted up and stopped putting tension on the belt.