What makes a serpentine belt need to be replaced?

These include a misaligned power steering pump pulley, idler pulley (s), automatic belt tensioner pulley, water pump pulley (which may be due to wear in the pump shaft bearings), and even a worn or loose harmonic balancer.

What causes oscillation in a serpentine belt?

A damper inside the tensioner housing reduces the motion of the tensioner arm, while absorbing vibrations and reducing noise. Excessive oscillation of the tensioner arm is a symptom of damper failure and spring fatigue. It also may be an indication of component failure elsewhere in the accessory drive system.

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!

Why is my serpentine belt cracking at engine speed?

Rhythmic noises occurring at engine speed are caused by a delaminating belt backing, chunking of belt ridges, or foreign object embedded in belt groove. Excessive cracking if not severe old age, then it is a sign of defective tensioner. Ensure that you are familiar with any of this sounds so you may identify the malfunction easily.

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 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 long does it take to replace the 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.

Is it safe to drive with a broken serpentine belt?

Do not drive your car with a broken serpentine belt. Your car will overheat because the serpentine belt drives the water pump (and without a serpentine belt, the water pump doesn’t circulate coolant through the engine and radiator) and it also drives the alternator which keeps the battery charged.

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.

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 much should it cost to replace a serpentine belt?

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,…

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 often should you change your serpentine belt?

The serpentine belt “snakes” around several components of the engine, transferring mechanical power to nearly every critical part. Under normal conditions, the belt needs to be replaced every 4 to 6 years. However, those living in areas where the temperature and humidity can vary greatly throughout the year may need to change it more frequently.

How long can I wait to change serpentine belt?

As a general rule, a serpentine belt lasts up to 50,000 miles or five years before it need to be replaced. Some can even last for up to 80,000 miles without any problems, but consult the owner’s manual for exact service interval.

Why does my serpentine belt make noise when I wear it?

When the V-ribs on the underside of a serpentine belt become worn, the belt may slip and make noise. It’s hard to see this type of wear, so a belt wear gauge tool should be used to measure the depth of the grooves in the belt. If the belt is worn, it’s time for a new belt. Belt noise also can be caused by misalignment between pulleys.

Do you have to have the belt off to turn the compressor?

You don’t have to have the belt off to turn the compressor. Just turn the outermost part of the magnetic clutch. That part is connected to the compressor shaft. The clutch free wheels when not engaged.:smile:

Why is my serpentine belt on my air conditioner not working?

Since the serpentine belt keeps the air conditioner functional, a bad serpentine belt will take that function away from it. If you turn on your air conditioner and see that it does not blow out cool air from the air vents, this could possibly be due to a bad serpentine belt.

What’s the best way to replace a serpentine belt?

Install the new belt Replacing the serpentine belt is as simple as threading it into position, cranking the tensioner and slipping the belt over the tensioner pulley, or nearest pulley up top. Belt tensioners are mostly spring tension. Once installed, the spring retains pressure to the belt.

What happens if a serpentine belt goes bad?

The serpentine belt in most modern vehicles transfers power from the crank pulley to the various accessories mounted on the engine. A worn or damaged serpentine belt can fail to adequately transfer the power, leaving your alternator, power steering, and air conditioning failing to function.

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.

What causes a belt to slip on an idler pulley?

A tensioner is used to maintain tension and when it seizes up or wears, tension is lost. The belt may start slipping off the pulley or slip off completely. In both cases it causes the belt to wear out faster. To solve this problem, replace the serpentine belt and the tensioner.

Can a bad oil leak damage a serpentine belt?

A continuous oil leak can cause a serpentine belt to be completely damaged in as little as a week. In this case, the first remedy is to fix the oil leak. Bad spring-loaded automatic belt tensioner: Tension is essential to proper working of the serpentine belt.

What happens when you change the serpentine belt?

Billions of rotations under constant tension of the serpentine belt will take its toll over time. The “ribs” in the pulleys get damaged so even if you change the belt, the damaged pulley will tear and shred the belt again.

Why does my idler belt make a squealing noise?

Squealing is generally caused by too much, unwanted friction on a surface where things should be moving smoothly.It is heard when the surface of the pulley is worn and is no longer smooth. Movement of the belt is still continuing so it repeatedly rubs on the surface.

Where is the serpentine belt tensioner located on a car?

This is a pulley that is either mounted to an adjustable pivot point or a spring mechanism. If you open up the hood of your car, you’ll see that the serpentine belt is on the front of your engine. It is the long one. The pulley itself is found on the outside of the belt, which is how it adds tension or pressure.

When is the best time to replace a serpentine belt?

This is a good time to look for oil leaks, too. Oil can increase wear on serpentine belts. Most importantly, take the tensioner pulley and any idler pulleys (these are pulleys that do not drive anything, like Power Steering) and give them a spin.

How do you remove a serpentine belt from a pulley?

Use your ratchet and socket to rotate the belt tensioner to relieve tension on the belt. Then slip the serpentine belt off one of the pulleys. If you need more leverage, use a breaker bar.

Why does my O’Reilly serpentine belt slip?

If the tensioner isn’t supplying enough tension, or if the serpentine belt is worn down, the belt may slip and create excessive heat or belt noise. Keep in mind that the serpentine belt, tensioner and idler pulleys were designed as a system.

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.

What makes a serpentine belt need to be replaced?