We shall consider Serpentine belt replacement cost in this article today. We shall also talk about symptoms of a bad serpentine belt and other important information about Serpentine belt. To get started, let’s find out what a serpentine belt is and it’s uses.
What Is a Serpentine Belt?
A serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt that drives various peripheral devices in an automobile engine, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, and air pump. An idler pulley and/or a belt tensioner may also be used to guide the belt (which may be spring-loaded, hydraulic, or manual).
Idler pulleys that push against the back of the belt, forcing the belt into a serpentine shape, are inserted to allow the belt to pass over more than three pulleys with a big enough wrap angle to avoid sliding. A serpentine belt is nearly always made of multi-groove (multi-vee, poly-v, or multi-rib) structure to enable bidirectional flexing while staying strong enough to transfer the complete force necessary by numerous loads.
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How To Replace The Serpentine Belt
Follow these steps if you wish to replace your serpentine belt:
Note The Belt Placement
Serpentine belts get their name from their shape. They weave in and out of a succession of pulleys and peripherals, and the path they take is specific to your car model. Take a few photos from various angles or draw a diagram of the belt’s path through the engine to retain its position. If the belt is already out of position, look for a schematic of the route in the driver’s manual or on the under-the-hood placard.
Unthread and Loosen The Belt
You’ll need to disconnect the tensioner, which maintains the belt taut while you’re driving, before you can remove the belt. Tensioners usually release tension in one of two ways. To alleviate stress, many feature a 12″ square cast into the tensioner arm into which you can put a 12″ breaker bar or Belt Tensioner Tool. For many others, you’ll need to utilize a socket on the pulley itself. Release the tensioner with a ratchet or breaker bar that fits into the bolt. After that, carefully unroute the belt, being cautious not to disrupt or damage the network of pulleys and peripherals.
Check For Damage
Examine the belt for evidence of damage once it has been removed. Many belts deteriorate over time, however other belts deteriorate due to misalignment or other problems. If you replace the belt, the misalignment will not go away, so make sure it’s a problem. Look for disintegration along the margins and split ribs, both of which indicate that your hands are misaligned. Make sure the pulleys are aligned perfectly with a straightedge, and then clean off any old dirt and grime.
It’s also an excellent time to check for oil leaks. Oil can cause serpentine belts to wear out faster. Most crucially, rotate the tensioner pulley as well as any idler pulleys (pulleys that do not drive anything, such as Power Steering). Pay close attention. They should be able to rotate freely without making any noise. Check for any side-to-side or in-and-out movement on each pulley. If any of these pulleys move too much or make a lot of noise, they should be replaced. If these pulleys break while the vehicle is on the road, your belt will fall off, and you will be without a water pump, power steering, and an alternator (in most situations), so inspect them thoroughly!
Install the New Belt
Threading the serpentine belt into place, cranking the tensioner, and slipping the belt over the tensioner pulley, or the nearest pulley up top, is all it takes to replace it. Spring tensioners are the most common type of belt tensioner. The spring holds the belt in place once it is placed. Once on, double-check that the belt is entirely on and centered on each pulley. The engine should then be started. Allow the engine to idle for at least 60 seconds while you inspect the serpentine belt. Before driving your car, replace any additional parts or coverings you’ve removed. The repair of a serpentine belt is an important element of routine auto maintenance, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Let’s now consider serpentine belt replacement cost…
Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost
A replacement serpentine belt costs roughly $70-$200 (plus taxes and fees), including around $50 for the belt and around $150 for labor, depending on your make and model as well as labor prices. For an exact price, your unique vehicle will need to be evaluated, just like any other car maintenance or repair work.
Symptoms Of a Bad Serpentine Belt
Before it needs to be replaced, a serpentine belt can last up to 50,000 miles or five years. Some models can go up to 80,000 miles without needing to be serviced, but check the owner’s manual for specific service intervals. Nonetheless, the serpentine belt will wear out over time due to the heat and friction it is exposed to on a daily basis, and will need to be replaced. Keep an eye out for the following signs that your serpentine belt is failing:
Squealing Noise
It’s possible that the serpentine belt is making a squealing noise from the front of your vehicle. This could be due to a misalignment or slippage. The only method to stop the noise is to visit a professional technician and have the serpentine/drive belt replaced or analyze the problem.
AC or Power Steering Not Working
Your automobile will break down if the serpentine belt fully fails and breaks. You will also notice a lack of power steering, the air conditioning will stop working, and the engine will no longer be able to be cooled properly. If the power steering breaks while the car is moving, major safety hazards may arise. One strategy to ensure that your belt does not break while driving is to perform preventative maintenance.
Overheating
A malfunctioning serpentine belt might cause your engine to overheat because the water pump will not turn, causing it to overheat. Have your engine evaluated by a mechanic as soon as it begins to overheat because allowing it to continue to overheat might lead to a breakdown and damage to your engine.
Cracks and Wear On The Belt
Physically inspecting your serpentine belt on a regular basis is a smart idea. Cracks, missing chunks, abrasions, rib separation, uneven rib wear, and injured ribs should all be looked for. It’s time to replace your serpentine/drive belt if you observe any of these symptoms.
What happens when serpentine goes bad?
The failure of your car’s power steering system can be caused by a serpentine belt failure. Your alternator or water pump may also stop working as a result. When these critical systems fail, your engine will be unable to work properly.
What happens when serpentine belt breaks?
A broken serpentine belt will result in the steering system losing power assist right away. The water pump will stop pumping antifreeze through the cooling system if the serpentine belt breaks. This means that if the serpentine belt breaks, the engine can overheat at any moment and in any location.
Can you drive with a broken serpentine belt?
The quick answer is yes, even if the serpentine belt is broken or missing, your car will start. The starting motor receives electricity from the battery to start the car. If you want the car to run for more than a few minutes, you’ll need your serpentine belt.
How long can serpentine belt last?
Because of advances in rubber technology, serpentine belts are built to last much longer than before. A belt should last you anywhere from 60,000 to 100,000 miles in perfect conditions.
Can I replace serpentine belt myself?
A serpentine belt can be replaced with common hand tools. However, we do not recommend you change it by yourself. The spaces are frequently cramped, and the belt-driven gadgets are difficult to access. We were able to remove the old belt and properly put the new one without having to reach down into the pulley region thanks to the belt placement tool.
Conclusion
Hope you enjoyed reading this article on serpentine belt replacement cost, we advise that you take your car to an auto mechanic, if you notice your serpentine belt is broken or faulty. We don’t recommend that you change it yourself unless you are an auto mechanic.