Can a car start after replacing a serpentine belt?
Stop or keep driving until the car overheated or the battery went dead or both ! However if the car was still able to run before you replaced the belt check if you knocked a conector or failed to replace something. Most serpentine belts have an automatic tensioner so replacing them is not that difficult.
How often should I replace my V-belt?
Serpentine belts last a lot longer than older V-belts ever did, but they still wear out over time. The typical replacement interval for serpentine belts and flat belts today is around 90,000 miles – which for many vehicles means only once every seven to nine years!
How do you remove a serpentine belt from a battery?
Use the appropriate sized wrench or socket to loosen the nut holding the black ground cable on the negative terminal of the battery. Slide the cable off of the terminal and tuck it to the side of the battery. You will not need to disconnect the positive terminal. Locate the serpentine belt.
What are the symptoms of a failing serpentine belt?
Here are the symptoms of a failing serpentine belt: Cracks and wear. Serpentine belts are reinforced with cord and continue working even if the rubber is cracked. If you see any cracks, missing chunks, uneven wear or rib separation, its time for a new serpentine belt.
When to replace a broken serpentine engine belt?
Using a gauge to check for belt wear (Image courtesy of tradetrucks.com) 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).
How do you tighten a serpentine belt on a car?
If your vehicle does not have an auto tensioner, insert a pry bar or piece of wood between the alternator and the engine. Run the belt over the alternator pulley, then use the bar to pry the alternator away from the engine and increase the tension on the belt. Tighten the bolts again as you apply tension.
Why does my serpentine belt make a squealing noise?
My car has 134000 miles. Noise of that type is due to a failed or failing bearing in one of the pulleys or accessories (e.g., alternator, water pump, A/C compressor) that is driven by the serpentine belt, the belt is not properly tensioned, or the rotating pulleys driven by the belt are not all in the same plane.
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.
Stop or keep driving until the car overheated or the battery went dead or both ! However if the car was still able to run before you replaced the belt check if you knocked a conector or failed to replace something. Most serpentine belts have an automatic tensioner so replacing them is not that difficult.
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.
What happens if a serpentine belt falls off?
The belt may also fall off if it is improperly routed or if it is the wrong belt. Using a gauge to check for belt wear (Image courtesy of tradetrucks.com) 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).
What can cause serpentine belt to smoke and then snap?
A serpentine belt has nothing to do with starting. Even when installed incorrectly or left off altogether the engine will start . You either disconnected something unrelated to the serp belt ..or…..I would have to ask why you replaced the belt in the first place.