Table of Contents
What Does a Serpentine Belt Do? The serpentine belt plays an essential role in running your car’s systems, explains TheDrive.com. It powers the alternator, the power steering pump, the air conditioning compressor and, in some vehicles, the water pump. The serpentine belt rotates constantly when the car is running.
What are the symptoms of a bad serpentine 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.
What happens to a car when the serpentine belt breaks?
If a serpentine belt breaks, a car won’t be drivable and will have to be towed. If the engine runs without a serpentine belt, it might overheat as the water pump will no longer work. A broken belt can also damage other parts. If a car has a hydraulic power steering pump, the steering will become stiff.
Can you drive with a bad serpentine belt?
There are a couple of factors influencing the answer to this question, but on average, your car should be able to run between 20-90 minutes with a broken serpentine belt. The engine will overheat faster without a functioning cooling system on a hot day, so your driving window is less.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt?
A typical serpentine belt start at around $25 and goes up to $75 at most. If you know some car repair basics, you could change the belt yourself, and it may save you paying labor charges somewhere between $75 and $120. All together, you’re looking at around $100 to $195 to replace your serpentine belt.
What problems can a loose serpentine belt cause?
Quick fact: If your serpentine belt is loose, you may have other mechanical problems like under-performing water pump, which can cause the engine to overheat. Squealing noise from the front of the vehicle. If you notice a squealing noise coming from the front of your vehicle, it could be from the serpentine belt. Nov 5, 2018.
Does serpentine belt affect engine?
The serpentine belt is also known as an alternator belt, fan belt, or accessory drive belt. If your serpentine belt wears out, becomes damaged or contaminated, or breaks, engine accessories will not be able to spin at the proper speed, leading to decreased power to the electrical system.
Does the serpentine belt affect performance?
Bad Serpentine Belts Cause Vehicle Performance Issues If your serpentine belt is failing, you may notice performance issues with your vehicle. The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly.
What does a worn serpentine belt sound like?
Although there are a few causes of a squealing engine, one of the most common is a bad or failing serpentine belt. Belt squeaking is also especially pronounced when accelerating, on startup, and when making a U-turn. The noise is loud and sounds like a squeal, loud chirp, or squeak.
How many miles will a serpentine belt last?
Typically, serpentine belts last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Over time, friction and heat break them down.
How much does it cost to replace a drive belt?
Once the belt starts to wear thin or breaks, it will need replacing, if those parts are going to work as they should. You will pay between $120 and $160 for this replacement job. The labor should cost about $80, while parts will run you about $60.
How long does it take to fix a serpentine belt?
It can take anything from 15 minutes to an hour (two at the most) to repair or replace a bad serpentine belt with a new belt.
How often should I replace my serpentine belt?
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.
Can I replace a serpentine belt myself?
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today’s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
Is a serpentine belt the same as a timing belt?
Timing Belt. Don’t get confused—a serpentine belt is not the same thing as a timing belt. The timing belt is located inside the engine and keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in sync. This ensures that the engine intake and exhaust valves open and close in time with the pistons so the engine runs smoothly.
What causes a squeaky belt?
The belt squeals because there is improper tension in the belt drive system. This is usually caused by a worn automatic tensioner, but other causes can include a contaminated belt (oil, belt dressing, etc.) or a belt that is too long or worn out. If the tensioner is worn, it should be replaced.
How long can you drive with a squeaky serpentine belt?
Normally you could expect to keep the engine running for an hour or two if the battery is healthy. More importance should be attached to whether the serpentine belt drives the water pump as well, which it usually does. If this is the case, then the engine will overheat very quickly, within a minute or two.
