What is a belt damper?
The belt tensioner not only provides the proper amount of tension, but also absorbs shocks and vibrations from the rest of the drive system. A damper inside the tensioner housing reduces the motion of the tensioner arm, while absorbing vibrations and reducing noise.
What’s the best way to replace a serpentine belt?
Auto tensioners have either a hole that will fit a half inch drive ratchet, or a bolt you can use a socket to apply pressure to. Insert the wrench or place the socket over the bolt on the tensioner and twist it away from the belt to relieve the tension on it.
How is the tension set on a serpentine belt?
Depending on the application, your serpentine belt will either have tension placed on it using a movable bracket or an auto tensioner pulley. This pulley uses an internal spring to apply consistent pressure to the belt at all times. If your vehicle does not have a tensioner pulley, the alternator bracket is likely how tension is set on the belt.
What happens if a serpentine belt goes bad?
The serpentine belt in most modern vehicles transfers power from the crank pulley to the various accessories mounted on the engine. A worn or damaged serpentine belt can fail to adequately transfer the power, leaving your alternator, power steering, and air conditioning failing to function.
Where do I find the serpentine belt routing diagram?
Find the serpentine belt routing diagram. Many cars come with a sticker in the engine bay that shows exactly how the serpentine belt is supposed to be routed through the various pulleys on the engine. If your vehicle does not have a sticker, you will need to find another way to remember how the belt should be run.
How often should I replace my serpentine belt?
A serpentine belt should last anywhere from 50,000 miles (in older vehicles) to 100,000 miles (newer vehicles with belts made of the latest rubber compounds, in ideal conditions). So, how often to replace your serpentine belt depends on your vehicle, its age, the material your serpentine belt is made of, and your driving conditions.
What do you need to know about the serpentine belt?
Importance of Serpentine Belt Maintenance. The serpentine belt, also known as the drive belt, is made of rubber. It connects the AC, power steering, and alternator to the engine’s crankshaft. The crankshaft sends power to each of these systems as well as the vehicle’s air injection pump.
How to install a new serpentine belt, fan belt or?
With clear access to your pulleys, you can now install your new serpentine belt. Remember to align the grooves of the belt with the grooves of your pulleys.
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?