What happens when a serpentine belt is too tight?
A belt that is too tight puts too much load on the bearings in each of the accessory pulleys and can often cause premature failure of those components. One of the most common failure modes for water pumps is actually bearing failure, caused by a serpentine belt that was too tight.
Can a loose serpentine belt cause an alternator to whine?
If the belt is too loose to maintain grip on the alternator pulley, you may experience a similar symptom as a snapped belt. If you start to notice a whine from the engine that changes with engine speed, you may want to have the tension of the serpentine belt double checked.
When does a drive belt tensioner need to be replaced?
There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one. Once you start to hear a grinding or squeaking sound coming from your engine, it’s time to have the drive belt tensioner looked at.
Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located on a car?
This is a pulley that is either mounted to an adjustable pivot point or a spring mechanism. If you open up the hood of your car, you’ll see that the serpentine belt is on the front of your engine. It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt on a corolla?
Upfront and transparent pricing. Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM. Toyota Corolla Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement costs $145 on average. What is a serpentine belt and how does it work?
Why is my serpentine belt not working on my Captiva?
Battery Light. A loose belt, perhaps caused by a defective tensioner, may not drive the alternator at adequate speed and thus the battery may discharge, causing the warning light to illuminate. Engine overheating. Often, the serpentine belt drives the water pump.
What happens if the serpentine belt goes bad?
Serpentine belt problems that result in the alternator not charging may cause the battery to discharge, which will result in loss of electrical power to the vehicle. Additionally, if a deteriorated belt breaks and that belt drives the water pump, the engine will overheat in a matter of seconds.
Why is my serpentine belt on my water pump too tight?
One of the most common failure modes for water pumps is actually bearing failure, caused by a serpentine belt that was too tight. If you think your belt may be too tight, it’s best to address this issue as soon as possible to prevent expensive engine damage caused by overheating. Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost Looking for Replacement Parts?