When to replace a tensioner on a belt?

On systems equipped with an automatic tensioner, the tensioner pulley should turn freely without binding, the tensioner arm should move smoothly through its entire range of motion and there should be adequate tension. Replace the tensioner and /or pulley as required

When do you need to replace a car belt?

Belts installed on vehicles with manual tension drives should be properly tensioned during installation, and re-tensioned after 5 minutes of run-in (30 lbs. per rib). A belt installed incorrectly will make noise and if not remedied quickly, will need to be replaced

How can you tell if a car belt is a chirp or a squeal?

One method to determine if the noise is a chirp or squeal is to use a water squirt bottle and spray the rib side of the belt while the vehicle is running. If the noise gets louder, it’s a squeal. If the noise goes away, it’s a chirp.

What causes low tension on a car belt?

Low installation tension (manually tensioned drives), belt stretch, extreme belt wear, tensioner spring degradation or a belt that is too long Fluid contamination on the belt (oil, power steering fluid, antifreeze, belt dressing, brake cleaner, etc.)

Can a bad a / C belt tensioner be replaced?

Both noises point to a bad A/C belt tensioner. With basic tools and little time, you can replace the tensioner in your Silverado quickly in the comfort of your own garage. This article applies to the Chevrolet Silverado GMT800 (1999-2006).

How do you replace a / C belt tensioner on a Chevy Silverado?

Rotate the tensioner clockwise against the spring, and hold it. Then slip the belt off the tensioner pulley. Release the tensioner slowly back to the spring stop. Slip the belt off the crank pulley and let it hang. Figure 4. Accessory drive belt removal. Examine the belt for cracked ribs or fraying, and consider replacing it.

How does the a / C belt work on a Chevy Silverado?

The air conditioning compressor is driven by a separate belt that is mounted low on the engine and behind the accessory belt. Both belts have GM auto-tensioners, which maintain spring pressure to automatically adjust for optimum tension as the belt wears. Belt noise begins when the spring weakens or the pulley bearing begins to wobble.

What causes a serpentine belt tensioner to wear out?

A worn automatic serpentine belt tensioner can cause belt squeal, misalignment and belt chirp, and alterantor bearing damage. Automatic tensioners tend to wear out at around 100K miles. If you have a belt noise or vibration and you’ve changed the belt, it’s time to test your belt tensioner. It’s easy. Just follow the procedures below.

When to replace a belt due to misalignment?

Inspect and replace all accessories / pulleys that are difficult to rotate (i.e. rough/seized bearings), or show excessive wobble / free rock Warning: Any existing misalignment condition probably caused pre-mature wear of the belt ribs on the old belt. A new belt is recommended once the accessory drive has been realigned.

Can a bad drive belt pulley cause wear?

If the drive belt tensioner pulley has any sort of issue it can cause unusual and accelerated wear on the belt. A bad pulley can cause fraying on the edges of the belt, and in severe cases can even cause it to break. 3. Belt-driven accessories fail Another symptom of bad or failing drive belt tensioner is failure of the belt driven accessories.

How long does a serpentine / drive belt last?

With that being said most serpentine/drive belts can last for a very long time before they need to be replaced. The lifespan of the 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 often do you use the drive belt?

The belt is in use every single time you start your engine, and it is used for as long as the engine is running. As you can imagine, that puts a lot of wear and tear on the belt.

What makes a belt make a chirping noise?

Most chirp noises occur as a short belt span enters into a grooved pulley, typically after exiting a backside pulley. Contamination (oil, power steering fluid, antifreeze, belt dressing, brake cleaner, etc. Inspect and replace all accessories / pulleys that are difficult to rotate (i.e. rough/seized bearings), or show excessive wobble / free rock

When do you Know Your serpentine belt needs to be replaced?

If you notice visible cracks or damage to anywhere on the belt, this means the belt is bad and needs to be replaced right away. If you’re driving along one day and suddenly lose power, check under the hood to see if your serpentine belt is still attached.

Why does my serpentine belt make a squealing noise?

My car has 134000 miles. Noise of that type is due to a failed or failing bearing in one of the pulleys or accessories (e.g., alternator, water pump, A/C compressor) that is driven by the serpentine belt, the belt is not properly tensioned, or the rotating pulleys driven by the belt are not all in the same plane.

How does the serpentine belt work in an engine?

The serpentine belt powers many different parts within the engine. It’s connected to the crankshaft, which causes the belt to spin. As the belt spins through the engine, it spins all the pulleys it’s connected to. As each pulley spins, it powers the part to which it’s connected.

Can a car run without a serpentine belt?

However, these devices cannot function properly without the help of a serpentine belt. This one long continuous belt is the force that drives many of the engine’s peripheral devices. There is usually a belt tensioner or idler pulley to guide the belt as it moves. What is a Serpentine Belt? What is a Serpentine Belt?

Which is the correct way to tension a V-belt?

The meter will report the belt tension in units of force. On new installations, hand rotate the system at least one full revolution of the belt in order to seat and normalize the components. When tensioning an array of V-belts, use a single belt toward the center.

What happens if there is too much tension in a belt?

If they are too loose, there is slippage, rapid belt or sheave wear and, ultimately, loss of both energy and productivity. Conversely, if there is too much tension, the excess strain on the belts, bearings and shafts causes premature wear of these components.

What should the deflection be on a V-belt?

If the force is below the recommended value, increase the drive center distance to provide greater belt tension. Reduce the center distance if there is too much force. For example, for a 100″ span, the deflection would be 100/64″, or approximately, 1½”.

What happens when you wear a belt tensioner?

A worn tensioner actually increases tension on the belt and that increased tension can damage the nose bearings on your AC compressor, power steering pump and alternator.

When to replace a serpentine belt tensioner?

Repair Topics > Belts Serpentine & Timing > When to replace serpentine… Let’s get this straight from the get-go, a serpentine belt tensioner doesn’t last the life of the vehicle. In fact, most start to show serious wear right around the 100K mile mark. You may think a worn tensioner just means your belt loses tension; you’d be wrong.

What causes low belt tension and belt noise?

Causes: 1 Low belt tension 2 Low installation tension (manually tensioned drives), belt stretch, extreme belt wear, tensioner spring degradation or a belt that is too long 3 High accessory / idler drag 4 Seized bearings or accessory failure / lock –up 5 Environmental contamination

What causes a high pitched squeal when you change a belt?

A new belt is recommended once the accessory drive has been realigned. “Squeal” is a high pitched noise, typically lasting several seconds in duration. This type of noise will typically increase in volume as the engine speed increases, and is caused by relative slip between the belt and pulleys.

When to replace a tensioner on a belt?