How can you tell if your serpentine belt is bad?
A squealing or noisy belt is one of the most common symptoms of a slipping or worn serpentine belt. Squealing can be more pronounced when you’re climbing a hill and running your heater or air conditioning at the same time. Squealing can also occur after you drive over deep puddles or have an undercarriage car wash.
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’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.
What kind of pulley does a serpentine belt use?
Determine if there is a belt tensioner pulley. 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.
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.
5) Visible Cracks on Belt. The serpentine belt is easy to access in most cars. If you want to know if your belt is bad, simply open the hood and look at the belt for yourself. If you notice visible cracks or damage to anywhere on the belt, this means the belt is bad and needs to be replaced right away.
How often should a serpentine belt be replaced?
And they’re crucial for running everything from alternators to power steering. In other words, when it’s time to replace it, replace it. Serpentine belts will last you a few years, but depending on whom you ask, you’ll need to start thinking about checking it every 50,000 to 60,000 miles.
Where is the serpentine belt located on a car?
The serpentine belt is located on the front of the engine because the crankshaft pulley powers it. Remember that the front of your engine does not always equal the front of the car. Your car can also be installed sideways, and this means that your car is located near the right fender of your car in most cases. Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost
When do you know your belt needs replacement?
Before your belt fails, it will usually show signs of wear. If the ribs facing the pulley are missing chunks, it’s not necessarily the end of the world. Many belts will function quite well with a few bits missing.
How do I know if my serpentine belt needs replaced?
Look for signs of damage or wear on the belt. Once you have located the serpentine belt, inspect it visually for signs of damage. If the belt is frayed, coming apart, or has marks that indicate that it has been rubbing on something, it will need to be replaced.
What are the symptoms of a bad serpentine belt?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Serpentine/ Drive Belt . Common signs include a squealing noise from the front of the vehicle, power steering and AC not working, engine overheating, and cracks on the belt.
When should you replace the serpentine belt?
Most serpentine belts need to be replaced every 40,000 to 70,000 miles. If there are signs of the belt rubbing on something, make sure to identify and repair whatever it was rubbing on to avoid damaging the new belt.
What is the average life span of a serpentine belt?
The lifespan of the serpentine belt will depend mostly on the type of material it’s made of. Older style belts generally last about 50,000 miles, while those made from EPDM can last up to 100,000 miles.
When do you know it’s time for a belt replacement?
A heavy rainstorm might cause a bit of squealing, but if there are any fluid leaks, it’s time to replace it right away. Another indicator that a replacement is necessary is if the belts look heavily cracked or if the grooves in the belt appear too shallow.