What are the symptoms of a loose serpentine belt?
The symptoms of a loose serpentine belt include a loud squealing noise when the engine is started or when the steering is turned all the way to one side. A serpentine belt that keeps slipping off the pulley is another symptom of a bad tensioner.
What causes the edge of a serpentine belt to fray?
Poor alignment can also cause premature wear, belt mistracking or rib skipping, and belt edge wear and fraying. Sight down the side of the belt to make sure the edge does not make any bends toward or away from the engine. Any deviation you can detect with your eye is too much.
Why does my serpentine belt squeal when I replace it?
A worn or glazed serpentine belt may begin to squeal with age. Squealing from a newly replaced belt usually indicates a larger problem: Improper Tension. The automatic belt tensioner is designed to provide constant tension for the life of the belt. Heat and repeated cycling of the tensioner’s internal spring can lead to fatigue and loss of tension.
Is the serpentine belt part of the system?
The serpentine belt is part of a system and is not the only component susceptible to wear. The tensioner, idler pulley and, on some vehicles, the decoupler pulley all wear over time and need periodic inspection and replacement.
What causes a serpentine belt to come off?
Belt coming off: Pulley misalignment, belt misalignment on pulley, defective tensioner, or bearing wear in tensioner, idler or driven accessories Belt noise can be hard to isolate, as the sound may seem to be coming from an accessory drive, such as the alternator or air conditioning compressor.
What causes glazing at the edges of a serpentine belt?
Glazing at the edges of a serpentine belt, or on its ridges or in the grooves, results from the belt slipping. It indicates that friction between the belt and the accessory drive pulley (s) created by slipping has overheated the belt. Fraying at the edge of a belt indicates pulley misalignment.
Where to inspect a serpentine belt system wear?
Where to Inspect a Serpentine Belt Always inspect the belt along the longest run and around an idler pulley that makes contact with the smooth side of the belt. The ribs of the belt are elongated in this position and any rib cracks are magnified. If rib cracks are detected, you should probably remove the belt for further inspection.
Why does my serpentine belt make a squealing sound?
If the front area of your vehicle makes squealing sounds, then your serpentine belt might be misaligned or slipping. Sometimes it might just take a realignment or proper tensioning of your serpentine belt to fix this problem.