How do you change a serpentine belt on a car?

Belt tensioners are mostly spring tension. Once installed, the spring retains pressure to the belt. Once on, make sure the belt is completely on and centered on each pulley very carefully. Then, start the engine. Let the engine idle for at least 60 seconds as you make sure the serpentine belt is working correctly.

What does the serpentine belt do on a 2.2 engine?

The 2.2 engine came equipped with a serpentine belt that operates all of the engine accessories such as the alternator, air-conditioner, power steering pump and the water pump. The serpentine belt is tensioned by a spring-loaded belt tensioner. Over time, the spring inside of the tensioner will weaken or break.

How did the serpentine belt get its name?

The serpentine belt is aptly named for the way it snakes around the pulleys inside the engine bay. This long, winding rubber belt powers many of the important systems of your vehicle by transferring power from the engine’s crankshaft to the accessory pulleys.

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!

Can you change the serpentine belt on a cobalt?

Such a tool,though, will likely greatly aid in changing the belt on this particular engine. Some additional GM models that are fitted with this engine include HHR, Malibu, Alero, Grand Am, Sunfire, Saturn L series as well as some Opel and Vauxhall cars. This job was done on a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt. This car is equipped with an air conditioner.

What kind of car has a serpentine belt?

This video offers some tips on removing and installing the serpentine belt on the GM 2.2L Ecotec engine. This engine is found on the Cobalt, Cavalier, HHR, Sunfire, Alero, Grand Am, Malibu, Saturn L Series and some Opel and Vauxhall cars. A 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt appears in this video. Loading…

Can you change the belt on a Chevy Malibu?

What kind of wrench do you need for a serpentine belt?

Tools: A serpentine wrench with a 3/8″ square male end, 10mm socket or wrench, Philips screwdriver, Optional: 3/8″ square keystock 2mm long, 3/8″ open end wrench, 10″ crescent wrench and a piece of pipe big enough to fit over the wrench and at least two feet long. Also optional but recommended: lug wrench and tire jack.

Step 1 – Remove engine covers, shrouds or plastic guards that may cover the work area. (Needed to access to the front of the engine.) Step 2 – Locate the belt tensioner which is under spring tension to hold pressure on the belt which keeps it secure.

What’s the best way to replace a belt?

Remember to align the grooves of the belt with the grooves of your pulleys. Pulleys that don’t have any grooves in them receive the flat side of the belt. If you mess up and install the flat side of the rubber belt onto a grooved pulley, it will probably split the belt quickly and you’ll be back where you started, but one serpentine belt poorer.

How to replace the timing belt and timing belt?

Jack up the front of the car so you can access the undercarriage beneath the engine. Place a bucket under the water pump, as coolant will gush out when you remove it. Read the car manual to locate the pump. Get all your tools ready and have bags and a pen to hand for labelling and storing parts you remove from the engine.

How do you remove the belt from the alternator?

Follow the steps below to remove the belts: Loosen the bolts which hold the alternator in position. Then tap it gently to loosen the fan belt so you can remove it. Do the same with the power steering belt, sliding the belt out of the way to get to the timing case and crankshaft pulley.

Do you need to remove serpentine belt to change timing belt?

Remove the alternator belt. Depending on your model, you may need to remove the serpentine belt to get to the timing belt. Loosen the nuts, pushing the alternator if necessary to create slack on the belt and remove it.

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.

How do you remove a power steering belt?

Step 8: Remove the serpentine belt. Use a hefty breaker bar or ratchet to get some leverage and push the tensioner away from the belt. Remove the serpentine belt. Loosen the 2 bolts holding the power steering pump to the block.

Where are the drain holes on a 1997 Chrysler Sebring?

Commonly, doing so will result in a deluge of water, along with spider web parts, leaf parts, and whatever else washed into the rocker panel fromo the rear window. To find the drain holes, just 1) lie under the car with a flashlight, or 2) sit alongside the car with one of those mirrors that come on a telescoping stick.

Where do I find the serpentine belt routing diagram?

Find the serpentine belt routing diagram. Many cars come with a sticker in the engine bay that shows exactly how the serpentine belt is supposed to be routed through the various pulleys on the engine. If your vehicle does not have a sticker, you will need to find another way to remember how the belt should be run.

Where do I find the serpentine belt tensioner?

Open your hood and locate your vehicle’s serpentine belt. Locate the serpentine belt routing diagram in the engine compartment, in the vehicle owners manual, or under the hood. Locate the serpentine belt tensioner.

What to use to clean serpentine belt pulleys?

Use a wire brush to clean the belt pulley grooves. Always use the right size belt to maintain the proper amount of tension. Do not use “belt dressing” or anti noise sprays. This is a temporary fix and will cause the replacement belt to fail prematurely because of contaminates on the pulley system.

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.

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.

How do you know if your serpentine belt is too tight?

If you notice any whine or “pulsing” sound from the alternator, your belt tension is too tight and will damage the alternator. In this case, turn the adjustment screw counterclockwise to loosen the belt and recheck the tension. Do a final check. You can also check for continuous power from all your accessories.

What is the average life span of a serpentine belt?

The lifespan of the serpentine belt will depend mostly on the type of material it’s made of. Older style belts generally last about 50,000 miles, while those made from EPDM can last up to 100,000 miles.

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.

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 replace a serpentine belt on a water pump?

Check the idler pulleys and the pulleys for the water pump, alternator, smog pump, A/C compressor and any other accessories for wobble or deflection. Install the new belt. Line up all belt ribs in the pulley grooves. Be sure that the belt is not twisted. Tighten the tensioner.

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.

Where can I find a serpentine belt routing diagram?

Select the specific year and make of your vehicle. Take note of the Illustration number and then Scroll to the bottom of the page to find your Free Serpentine Belt Routing Diagram. What’s that squeal coming from under the hood?

Why is the serpentine belt important on a Chevy Silverado?

If you didn’t already know, the serpentine belt or drivebelt on your truck’s engine is very important in the proper operation of the engine. It drives critical engine components like the alternator, power steering pump, and water pump as well as accessories such as the air conditioning compressor.

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 easy is it to change the serpentine belt?

How to Replace Your Serpentine Belt Note the placement of belt. Serpentine belts have that name for a reason. Loosen and unthread the belt. Before removing the belt, you’ll need to release the tensioner, which automatically keeps the belt taut while you’re driving. Check for damage. After removing the belt, inspect it for signs of damage. Install the new belt.

How do you remove a serpentine belt?

To remove the serpentine belt, release tension off of the tensioner. Then grab the serpentine belt between the a/c compressor and alternator just pull it off. You do not need to take it far off.

How do you change the serpentine belt?

How to Change a Serpentine Belt Step 1 – Get Out Your Cars Diagram Step 2 – Turn Off Your Car and Keep It on Idle Step 3 – Pop the Hood Step 4 – Note How the Belt Functions Step 5 – Relieve the Tensioner Pressure Step 6 – Slide the Belt Off the Pulley Step 7 – Remove the Motor Mount Step 8 – Replace the Belt Step 9 – Clean Up

How do you change a serpentine belt on a car?