Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located on a car?
Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located on a car?
This is a pulley that is either mounted to an adjustable pivot point or a spring mechanism. If you open up the hood of your car, you’ll see that the serpentine belt is on the front of your engine. It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure.
When to replace serpentine belt tensioner — Ricks free?
A good belt tensioner will dampen the power pulses so much that the tensioner pulley arm barely moves. As the dampener wears the pulses cause the belt to flutter and that can be seen on the pulley arm. A belt tensioner pulley arm should not move more than 1/32”.
How long does a drive belt tensioner last?
Drive belts typically last anywhere between 40,000 and 70,000 miles. There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one. Once you start to hear a grinding or squeaking sound coming from your engine, it’s time to have the drive belt tensioner looked at.
What do you need to know about the serpentine belt?
However, we’ll break it down for you in this article. The serpentine belt assists to keep the essential parts of the vehicle operator and some of these parts include the air conditioning, water pump, alternator, and many others. It is a long rubber belt that moves power to the different accessories of the engine.
Where is the best place to place a belt tensioner?
The best place for a tensioner on a belt drive is on the inside of the belt against the slack side. The idler should be located such that it provides nearly equal arcs of contact on both driver and driven pulleys.
Can you use an automatic tensioner on a synchronous belt?
The problem here is that when the drive reverses, the slack side becomes the tight side against which the tensioner’s spring force may be inadequate to maintain proper tension. Automatic tensioners are also not recommended for use on synchronous belts unless the drive is intended strictly for motion transfer.
Can a chain drive be used with a rotary tensioner?
A: Sometimes mounting location, drive configuration, and other factors won’t permit the use of one type or other. Rotary tensioners are found primarily on belt drives, although they can be used on chain drives as well.
How much slack should a belt tensioner have?
A: Under normal conditions, chain slack shouldn’t exceed 4% of the span. For unusual conditions such as heavy loads or frequent starts and stops, chain slack should be less than 2% of the span. Excessive slack usually occurs on drives with long spans.
How often do serpentine belts need to be replaced?
Belts continue to be one of the most replaced wear items on vehicles today. 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 does a drive belt tensioner need to be replaced?
There aren’t a lot of warning signs that a drive belt tensioner has hit the end of its lifespan, in fact there is really only one. Once you start to hear a grinding or squeaking sound coming from your engine, it’s time to have the drive belt tensioner looked at.
Why does my serpentine belt make noise when I wear it?
When the V-ribs on the underside of a serpentine belt become worn, the belt may slip and make noise. It’s hard to see this type of wear, so a belt wear gauge tool should be used to measure the depth of the grooves in the belt. If the belt is worn, it’s time for a new belt. Belt noise also can be caused by misalignment between pulleys.
What are the signs of a bad belt tensioner?
The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.
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.
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.
When should you replace the serpentine belt?
Most serpentine belts need to be replaced every 40,000 to 70,000 miles. If there are signs of the belt rubbing on something, make sure to identify and repair whatever it was rubbing on to avoid damaging the new belt.
