What happens if a car starts without a serpentine belt?
Another problem which is the most concerning is that without a serpentine belt your water pump won’t be circulating coolant throughout your car’s engine. Without coolant circulating throughout your engine, it will heat up very quickly which can cause damage to your car’s engine.
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.
Is the timing belt the same as the serpentine belt?
No, a timing belt is not the same thing as a serpentine belt. A timing belt is used to synchronize the moving parts of your crankshaft and camshaft. Your serpentine belt as we previously discussed is used to drive the accessories of your car.
How often should a serpentine belt be replaced?
Have the belt replaced whenever a related component is replaced (a broken belt is often associated with a damaged or seized pulley on one of the engine accessories). And consider regular inspection and replacement of the serpentine belt as a part of routine vehicle maintenance every 30k miles.
Why did the serpentine belt on my car break?
If the engine got too hot due to the water pump not turning, coolant could have escaped, thus explaining the fluid (if it is coolant). It’s possible you just need a new serpentine belt but the car has to be checked for seized components driven by the serpentine belt in case that accounts for the belt having broken in the first place.
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.
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.
Can a car drive without a serpentine belt?
Also without a serpentine belt connected you won’t have power steering while driving around. While this may not be that big of a problem (most cars before the ’70s didn’t have power steering) it can be a problem while driving at low speeds as that is mainly when your power steering is needed.
Can a serpentine belt drive a balance shaft?
Also, the serpentine belt does not drive the balance shafts, those are usually either gear or chain driven on cars with a timing chain. Occasionally they are driven by a toothed belt, but if that were the case there would be a replacement interval listed for the balancer belts in your car’s manual.
What to do when your serpentine belt snaps?
The only thing thast a belt may do damge to is other “soft” items. Such as hoses, other belts, wiring, etc… Majority of the time when a belt broke and the car was hauled to my shop I inspect the basic stuff and spin all the pulleys by hand to make sure the belt was not killed instead of died by old age.
Why did my serpintine belt break and fluid everywhere?
The oil leak may be coming from a leaking oil drain plug or another gasket or seal of the engine. The inlet tube is very important: it seals out the dirt and debris that the filter cleans out of the… When you say (and now my brakes are still soft) this means you had soft brakes before and after the master cylinder was replaced.
Is it safe to drive with a broken serpentine belt?
Do not drive your car with a broken serpentine belt. Your car will overheat because the serpentine belt drives the water pump (and without a serpentine belt, the water pump doesn’t circulate coolant through the engine and radiator) and it also drives the alternator which keeps the battery charged.
What are the symptoms of a broken serpentine belt?
There are various symptoms that may indicate your car’s serpentine belt is wearing down, including: Squealing or chirping noises: When the serpentine belt starts slipping, it may begin to chirp or squeal . This sound indicates that there is belt stretch, low belt tension, or the pulley and belt are not working together correctly.
How long does it take to replace the serpentine belt?
For professional automotive technicians with the right tools and training the replacement of a serpentine belt usually takes about 30 min to an hour. This time varies by the make, model, and year of vehicle that you’re driving as some take longer than others.
When serpentine belt breaks?
When a serpentine belt breaks, all drive power to whatever it turns is lost. This means the water pump stops circulating coolant through the engine, the alternator quits producing power, the power steering pump ceases to assist steering, and the air conditioner quits cooling.