How often should you change your serpentine belt?
How often should you change your 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 do you replace a serpentine belt pulley?
Many have a ½” square cast into the tensioner arm, in which you insert a ½” breaker bar, or Belt Tensioner Tool to relieve the tension. Many others, you use a socket on the pulley itself to do this. Use a ratchet or breaker bar that fits into the bolt and release the tensioner.
What happens when you loosen a serpentine belt?
If your vehicle uses the alternator bracket to apply tension to the belt, loosen the two bolts that pass through the long eyelets on the bracket. As you loosen the bolts, the tension on the belt will likely move the alternator toward the engine and relieve the pressure. Loosen the bolts enough to move the alternator, but don’t remove them.
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 much does it cost to have a serpentine belt replaced?
RepairPal.com notes the average cost of a serpentine belt replacement can cost anywhere from $76 to $164, with labor estimates in the $35 and $100 range, whereas parts could cost $41 to $64. A few members on Slickdeals.net talked about the costs they had paid for their 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 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.
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.
Can a V belt be used as a serpentine belt?
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.
What to do if you misroute a serpentine belt?
If there is no belt routing decal under the hood (which many cars lack), your customer should snap a photo of the belt before it is removed with a phone camera, or make a simple drawing of how it is routed. It’s easy to misroute a serpentine belt if you can’t remember how it was positioned before it was removed.
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 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.
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.
What happens if the serpentine belt goes bad?
If the belt is worn enough to slip, it’s going to start wearing out faster. If it breaks, the broken belt could flip around in the engine compartment and potentially cause major damage to your vehicle. What Happens When the Serpentine Belt Goes Bad?
Why do you need to replace your serpentine belt?
The serpentine belt transfers power to your vehicle’s many components. Replacing a worn or cracked belt can make your engine run more smoothly and save you from potentially costly repairs. What is a Serpentine Belt?
Why does the serpentine belt on my car crack?
Wear and tear, as well as extreme temperatures, will take a toll on the serpentine belt at some point. Years of use could cause the belt to crack or wear unevenly. It’s a good idea to periodically check the belt or have a mechanic inspect it for you during routine car maintenance.
What kind of warranty does Forest River have?
Thank you for choosing to purchase a Recreational Vehicle by Forest River Inc., a fine product in which design and construction have received the care that quality demands. This important warranty covers many items and is indicative of our desire to stand behind our products and assure our customers’ complete satisfaction.
What makes a serpentine belt make a squealing noise?
The tensioner is a self-adjusting pulley that maintains pressure on the belt to reduce slipping. At times, the bearings in the tensioner pulley become worn. This causes the squealing noise. Check these bearings when performing a belt change. Serpentine belts have that name for a reason.
How to change the serpentine belt on a Hyundai Santa Fe?
How to Replace the Serpentine Belt on a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe. Open the hood of your Santa Fe and locate the negative battery cable at the battery. Loosen the retaining bolt that secures the cable end to the battery terminal using a wrench, and then remove the battery cable from the terminal.
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.
What happens when a serpentine belt is worn?
A worn or damaged serpentine belt can fail to adequately transfer the power, leaving your alternator, power steering, and air conditioning failing to function. If your serpentine belt needs to be replaced, it can be done using only common hand tools.
How long does it take to replace a serpentine belt?
For professional automotive technicians with the right tools and training the replacement of a serpentine belt usually takes about 30 min to an hour. This time varies by the make, model, and year of vehicle that you’re driving as some take longer than others.
How do you loosen a serpentine belt?
Less than half a turn is too much tension, and more than half a turn is not enough. If you wish to remove the serpentine belt, simply loosen one of the pulleys with a ratchet and socket, and slip the belt off with your hands.
