Is it dangerous to drive with a loose serpentine belt?
Don’t drive any vehicle with a squeaky loose serpentine belt, because it will cause a lot of damages to the vehicle if it comes off the pulleys and breaking up into pieces.
What causes a serpentine belt to come loose?
Serpentine belt problems usually result from one of three causes: a defective belt tensioner; misalignment of a pulley; or, defective bearings in the tensioner, idler, or one of accessories driven by the belt (including the water pump). Polished belt edges: Belt slipping.
How long can you drive with a loose serpentine belt?
Serpentine belts are built to last—much longer than before because of advancements in rubber technology. Under ideal conditions, a belt should stick with you for an average of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt?
The replacement cost is only going to be between $100 and $200 in most cases. The belt itself will cost between $25 and $80 while the labor costs will probably be between $75 and $120. Taxes and fees will be added onto these prices too. The ease of accessing the serpentine belt will determine how much the labor costs are.
What happens when you loosen a serpentine belt?
If your vehicle uses the alternator bracket to apply tension to the belt, loosen the two bolts that pass through the long eyelets on the bracket. As you loosen the bolts, the tension on the belt will likely move the alternator toward the engine and relieve the pressure. Loosen the bolts enough to move the alternator, but don’t remove them.
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!
When to replace serpentine belts on a radiator?
Recommend new hoses (and clamps) if a customer is changing a water pump, radiator or heater core. Serpentine belts can be tricky to replace because of the way in which they are routed and because of limited access in a tight engine compartment.
How long does it take to replace a 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.
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.
For just the parts, most serpentine belts retail for $15 to $45, but if you needed to hire a mechanic to replace it, then the costs could increase to anywhere from the shop minimum, often around $75 to as much as $200 if the part is difficult to access and/or install for both the parts and the professional install.
How do you loosen a serpentine belt?
Less than half a turn is too much tension, and more than half a turn is not enough. If you wish to remove the serpentine belt, simply loosen one of the pulleys with a ratchet and socket, and slip the belt off with your hands.