Is there an auto tensioner on a serpentine belt?
Most serpentine belts have an auto-tensioner that automatically keeps the proper tension on the belt. However, some belts have an adjustment screw that applies tension to the belt.
How do you tighten the nut on a serpentine belt?
Place the socket end of the socket wrench over the wing-nut and turn clockwise to apply tension. It is likely not possible to adjust this by hand, so check your socket set for a socket that will fit snugly over the wing-nut so that you can tighten the nut, thereby applying more tension to the serpentine belt.
How do you check a serpentine car belt?
Check the tension of the belt periodically. To do this, grab any area of the belt that is between two pulleys with your fingers. There should be approximately 1/4 inch play in the belt for most vehicles. Do a secondary check of the belt tension. To do this, turn on the vehicle and examine the belt in motion.
What to do if your belt tension is too tight?
Do a secondary check of the belt tension. To do this, turn on the vehicle and examine the belt in motion. Listen specifically for whining coming from the alternator. If you notice any whine or “pulsing” sound from the alternator, your belt tension is too tight and will damage the alternator.
How do you tighten a serpentine belt on a car?
Cars with a single serpentine belt that uses an automatic belt tensioner cannot have the drive belt tightened manually. Step 1: Don your protective gear and locate the drive belt Put on your safety glasses and gloves. Locate the drive belt – the vehicle may have more than one.
Where is the tensioner on the drive belt?
Step 1: Locate the drive belt tensioner. The drive belt assembly will have a specific component that tightens that belt. The tensioner may be found on the alternator or a pulley; it varies by vehicle and which belt is being tightened. This article will use an alternator belt tensioner as an example.
When do you need to tighten a drive belt?
If damage is found, you will need to replace the drive belt. Tip: An alternate method of seeing whether the drive belt needs tightening is to rotate the belt. It should not be able to turn more than 90 degrees; if it can turn more, you know the belt should be tightened. Step 1: Locate the drive belt tensioner.
How do you tighten an alternator drive belt?
Step 3: Add tension to the drive belt. Insert the pry bar above the alternator pulley. Apply gentle pressure upwards so that it adds tension to the drive belt. Once the drive belt is moved into its desired tension, tighten the adjustment bolt to lock the belt in place. Then, torque the adjustment bolt to the manufacturer’s specifications.
What causes a serpentine belt pulley to squeak?
The serpentine belt in your car powers the accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, the alternator, and waterpump. Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak.
Most serpentine belts have an auto-tensioner that automatically keeps the proper tension on the belt. However, some belts have an adjustment screw that applies tension to the belt.
The serpentine belt in your car powers the accessories such as air conditioning, power steering, the alternator, and waterpump. Tensioner pulley wear will cause your pulley to squeak.
Place the socket end of the socket wrench over the wing-nut and turn clockwise to apply tension. It is likely not possible to adjust this by hand, so check your socket set for a socket that will fit snugly over the wing-nut so that you can tighten the nut, thereby applying more tension to the serpentine belt.
What kind of pulleys can I get from Jegs?
Choose an underdrive pulley from JEGS, BBK, Holley, SLP and more! JEGS also carries a full line of dress-up auto pulleys and serpentine style auto pulley conversion kits from Billet Specialties and March Performance for your Ford, Chevy (SBC Pulleys and BBC Pulleys) – other GM and Mopar vehicles.
What happens if a serpentine belt goes bad?
The serpentine belt in most modern vehicles transfers power from the crank pulley to the various accessories mounted on the engine. A worn or damaged serpentine belt can fail to adequately transfer the power, leaving your alternator, power steering, and air conditioning failing to function.
How do you remove a serpentine belt from a car?
Pull the belt off of the pulleys. With the tension relieved from the belt, pull it off of the pulley that has been placing tension on it, then remove it from the around the rest of the pulleys on the engine. If the belt is severely damaged, be sure to remove any parts that may have come off of it as well.
How do you remove tension from a serpentine belt?
Note: It is a very heavy spring tension, and pivoting the tensioner is often not possible with a short handled tool. Hold the tension from the belt, and slip the belt off the auto tensioner pulley to remove the belt and pulley system. Slowly release the tension to avoid damage or injury, and then remove the tool from the belt auto tensioner.
When do you know you have a serpentine belt problem?
This sound is the first warning of a serpentine belt problem to come, especially if it’s present all the time. It’s a weak, sometimes barely noticeable squeaky sound that may even disappear when you start to drive or the engine heats up a bit.
What happens if you cut the tensioner on a belt?
Serious damage caution. Do “not” cut the belt: Avoid such a “short cut”, as that can cause the tensioner or where it attaches to be damaged when it springs back violently.
Where is the belt tensioner located on a car?
Where is the belt tensioner located? The single belt loops around all the different pulleys on your engine, but one pulley has a tensioner arm, which will be the only pulley the has a square, 3/8-inch hole in the center. That hole is for a 3/8-inch ratchet nub, the part that holds the socket.
What happens if pulley on serpentine belt fails?
The serpentine belt is routed around pulleys that drive your vehicle’s accessories. If a pulley on one of the accessories seizes or fails to turn it will likely destroy the serpentine belt, but it’s important to consider that a belt that’s too tight will often lead to seizing pulleys.
When is it time to replace your serpentine drive belt?
Check for cracks, chunks missing, abrasions, rib separation, uneven rib wear, and damaged ribs. If you notice any of these, it is time to replace your serpentine/drive belt. As soon as you notice a squealing noise, loss of power steering, the engine overheating, or the belt looks bad,…
Where is the adjustment screw on a serpentine belt?
Open the hood and locate the adjustment screw that controls tension on the serpentine belt. This screw is typically a wing-nut located near the alternator and is in plain view.