What do you need to know about serpentine belts?

While most cars today only have a serpentine belt to control various systems, some vehicles have other belts. For example, select older rides may have a series of V belts in place of the serpentine belt. Some cars also have a timing belt to drive water pumps and oil pumps to the engine and other important parts.

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.

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.

Are there serpentine belts at Sun Auto Service?

Yes, Sun Auto Service has a team of ASE-certified technicians who install quality and durable serpentine belts to keep your vehicle running at its best. Our serpentine belts are constructed of the best rubber compounds for heavy-duty protection.

What are the symptoms of a bad serpentine belt?

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Serpentine/ Drive Belt . Common signs include a squealing noise from the front of the vehicle, power steering and AC not working, engine overheating, and cracks on the belt.

What is the best quality serpentine belt?

Short Reviews of 5 Best Serpentine Belts 1. Gates K060841 Serpentine Belt/Fan Belt 2. ACDelco 6K930 Professional V-Ribbed Serpentine Belt 3. Bando 6PK2135 OEM Quality Serpentine Belt 4. Continental Elite 4061025 Poly-V / Serpentine Belt 5. Motorcraft JK6982D Serpentine Belt

How often should you replace the serpentine belt?

Serpentine belts can last for years and might only need to be changed once or twice over the life of the vehicle. The recommended industry standard is to inspect your belt at 60,000 miles for wear & tear and replace if necessary, and replace every 90,000 miles regardless of the appearance in order to reduce the chances of a breakdown.

How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt?

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.

What is a serpentine belt? A serpentine belt is one distinct belt, which is used to drive 1 or more devices in a car, truck, van, or SUV engine. Some of the components driven by a serpentine belt are an air pump, water pump, power steering, air conditioner, and most importantly the alternator.

How do you tighten up a serpentine belt?

Another tensioner pulley uses a square-faced bolt for adjustment, and a third uses a large tab that can be set to a certain position for proper belt tightness. To remove an old serpentine belt, or to tighten up a new one, the tensioner bolt on the tensioner pulley is turned until proper tightness is achieved.

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.

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.

When is the best time to replace the serpentine belt?

As soon as you have located the serpentine belt, examine it if there is any signs of damage. In case the belt is frayed, or having marks that indicate that it has been rubbing on something, then replacing the serpentine belt will be the best.

How is the tension set on a serpentine belt?

Depending on the application, your serpentine belt will either have tension placed on it using a movable bracket or an auto tensioner pulley. This pulley uses an internal spring to apply consistent pressure to the belt at all times. If your vehicle does not have a tensioner pulley, the alternator bracket is likely how tension is set on the belt.

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.