Can a serpentine belt be put on wrong?
NOTE: A serpentine belt will usually go on only one way. In some instances it may be possible to install a serpentine belt the wrong way. If this happens, one or more pulleys will rotate in the WRONG direction, affecting the operation of the alternator, water pump, A/C compressor or power steering pump.
What is an excellent recommendation for a customer replacing the serpentine belt?
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!
Can I replace a serpentine belt myself?
You can replace a serpentine belt with ordinary hand tools. But we don’t recommend it. The spaces are often tight and the belt-driven devices difficult to reach. The belt placement tool allowed us to remove and properly place the new belt without reaching down into the pulley area.
How many years do serpentine belts last?
Serpentine belts are built to last—much longer than before because of advancements in rubber technology. Under ideal conditions, a belt should stick with you for an average of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
How often should you change the serpentine belt?
60,000 to 100,000 miles
How often does a serpentine belt need to be replaced? Serpentine belts are built to last—much longer than before because of advancements in rubber technology. Under ideal conditions, a belt should stick with you for an average of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
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.
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.
What kind of pulley does a serpentine belt use?
Determine if there is a belt tensioner pulley. 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.
Is the water pump driven by the serpentine belt?
Another important device driven by the serpentine belt is the water pump. This is not always the case as on a lot of cars the water pump is driven by the timing belt. You should have this in mind so you don’t falsely “accuse” the serpentine belt for overheating.
How often should you replace the serpentine belt?
On average, serpentine belts should last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. However, if you’re only putting a few thousand miles annually on your vehicle, don’t use that mileage interval as the sole guide for when to replace the serpentine belt.
Why is my serpentine belt not working properly?
If you find that the belt is not in bad condition, you should still inspect the tensioner, but it could be another problem, like a broken pulley. Typically, the smooth back of the serpentine belt powers the water pump. If the serpentine belt is glazed or oil soaked, the engine will not be cooled as required.
How much does a new SERP belt cost?
It was costly: new tensioner, new pump, new serp belt, and new coolant just shy of $1,300. The truck had about 125,700 miles on it. I’ve heard of water pumps failing about these many miles so you may also want to consider doing water pump along with the tensioner and serp belt.
Where is the serpentine belt on a car?
Your vehicle’s serpentine belt is one long, winding belt that snakes around several pulleys and is usually visible at the front or on the side of the engine. In most modern vehicles, it drives the air conditioning, power steering, water pump, and alternator – charging the battery and providing additional electrical power.
