Easy tips

How often should I Change my serpentine belt?

How often should I Change my serpentine belt?

After you reach 50,000 miles on the belt, it’s a good idea to check it every 10,000 miles to make sure that it’s not getting overly worn. You can check the tensioner at the same time. The first time replacing this belt can be difficult until you get the hang of it.

Can a loose serpentine belt cause an alternator to whine?

If the belt is too loose to maintain grip on the alternator pulley, you may experience a similar symptom as a snapped belt. If you start to notice a whine from the engine that changes with engine speed, you may want to have the tension of the serpentine belt double checked.

How can I tell if my serpentine belt is bad?

So, if it’s worn out, it will start slipping over the alternator pulley and the alternator won’t be able to produce enough electric power. This symptom of a serpentine belt problem is notorious for being hard to recognize. In most cases, there will be no sounds or visible symptoms. To make things even harder, even the battery light doesn’t come up.

How much does it cost to replace an alternator belt?

Unfortunately, the battery will die within minutes because it doesn’t have enough power to sustain all the vehicle’s energy needs by itself. The replacement cost of an alternator belt is typically between $100 and $200. The part cost is between $25 and $80 while the labor cost is between $75 and $120.

If the belt is too loose to maintain grip on the alternator pulley, you may experience a similar symptom as a snapped belt. If you start to notice a whine from the engine that changes with engine speed, you may want to have the tension of the serpentine belt double checked.

When to replace serpentine belts and flat belts?

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! That’s a lot of miles between belt changes.

What does it mean when your serpentine belt falls off?

There are two “glow levels” of the battery light if you have a serpentine belt problem: This is the case if the belt snapped or fell off. The battery warning light comes up because the alternator has completely stopped working as there is no rotation.

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!

Author Image
Ruth Doyle