How do you know which pulley is bad?

Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Idler Pulley

Visibly worn pulleys. One of the first symptoms of an issue with an idler pulley is visible wear on the pulley.
Belt squealing. Another common symptom of a possible issue with the idler pulley is squealing from the engine belts.
Damaged bearing or pulley.

How do you know if your fan belt broke?

What are the Symptoms of a Bad Serpentine Belt?

Squealing noise. This noise should be coming from the front of the vehicle in order to be attributed to the serpentine belt.
The power steering and air conditioning are not working in your car.
The engine is overheating.
Cracks and signs of wear on the belt.

When does a worn fan belt make a squealing noise?

Often, a worn belt makes a squealing noise for 1 or 2 minutes after the engine starts. Left untouched, the squeaking grows louder and lasts for longer periods of time. Drivers may notice the noise whenever the car accelerates.

What should the tension be on a fan belt?

Check the belt tension. Test the tension at the area where the belt is the longest length between accessories. The amount of tension may be specific to the engine, but generally, it should have no more than about ½ to 1 inch of give.

What should I do if my car fan belt is leaking?

A little splash of water on the belt isn’t a big deal. However, if it is due to leaking motor oil, coolant, or other engine fluid, the issue is urgent. In this case, bring your vehicle to an expert right away. Just replacing the belt won’t do much good long term if you don’t take care of the leak.

Why does my air conditioner fan belt keep falling off?

In this way, the belt keeps your fan, air conditioning, power steering pump, water pump and alternator working. It also indirectly keeps your battery from dying as that is a role of the alternator. If your fan belt breaks or falls off, these components will eventually fail, potentially leading to much bigger issues.

How do you replace a belt on a fan?

Route the new belt through the pulleys just like the old one was. Consult your user manual or the photo you took to make sure it is correct. Finally, apply pressure to the auto tensioner and put the belt over the pulley. Once in place, release the pressure so that the tensioner holds the belt in place.

What happens if you have a broken fan belt?

Your fan belt provides power to vital systems in your engine so a broken or worn belt will affect multiple functions. If engine accessories that are driven by the fan belt are not able to spin at the correct speed your entire electrical system can lose power. You might also lose power steering which will make the wheel suddenly harder to turn.

What’s the difference between a fan belt and a serpentine belt?

While some older cars have radiator fan belts, most modern cars have a serpentine belt, which serves the same function but controls many more engine parts. There are warning signs that indicate a fan belt or serpentine belt needs to be replaced. Often, a worn belt makes a squealing noise for 1 or 2 minutes after the engine starts.