Can a serpentine belt be replaced with a pulley?
There just isn’t room for that many belts and pulleys anymore—not to mention, this belt configuration means that it’s a service nightmare to replace just the inner belt by itself. You’d have to remove the other three first—not a fun job. There are several advantages to the new style of serpentine belts.
What to do if your power steering belt is too slack?
If the belt was too slack, increase the tension by levering the pump outwards with a strong screwdriver or flat bar. Lever against the cast front end of the pump body, just behind the drive-belt pulley — not against any other part of the body or pipework, which are easily damaged.
Why is my serpentine belt cracking under the hood?
That awful squealing beneath the hood may be coming from a frayed or cracked serpentine belt. It’s a crucial part of the engine assembly—here are step-by-step instructions for replacing your serpentine belt without bringing your car to the shop.
How do you remove a belt from an engine?
Slacken the adjuster and pivot bolts, and push the pump inwards by the cast front plate until the belt is slack enough to ease off. Do not push against any other part of the pump or pipework, or you may damage it. Remove the old belt. If it is the outermost of several belts on the engine, removal is straightforward.
How can you tell if a new belt is the wrong belt?
Look at the new belt in comparison to the old one to be sure they are the same width and have the same number of ribs going across the belt horizontally. The old belt may be slightly longer than the new one due to stretching. If the new belt is not the same width as the old one, it is the wrong belt.
Where do I find the serpentine belt on my car?
To access the serpentine belt, you will need to open the hood of the vehicle. The hood release can usually be found near the door on the driver’s side of the vehicle. With the hood released, you will also need to release the safety latch located at the front of the vehicle.
How do you check the tension on a serpentine belt?
Check the belt tension by looking at the tensioner arm—the mark cast into the tensioner body will fall between the high and low marks if the belt is the correct part number and is installed properly. Torque the new tensioner to the specified degree of tightness. Yes, that means with a torque wrench, not your carefully calibrated elbow.
Why does my serpentine belt make a squealing noise?
Usually, you get plenty of warning before you hear the final Bad Noise, to wit, that squealing. A squealing noise is indicative of a problem, but might not require replacement of the belt. Misaligned pulleys or a seized tensioner or idler pulley can generate some noise as well.
How can I tell if my belt is starting to disintegrate?
A belt that’s starting to disintegrate will show damage to the ribs or cords, which can usually be seen without dismantling anything. But you might need a flashlight and a dental mirror to see the fraying or cracking. Start by studying the old belt’s routing, which should be easy if the belt is still in place.