Diyvehiclerepair
The serpentine belt goes by a couple of different names: accessory belt and drive belt. The belt is long and snakes through several pulleys. That's why it's called a serpentine belt. You can find the serpentine belt on the front or side the engine.
- What is an accessory belt?
- How much does it cost to replace accessory belt?
- Can a car run without accessory belt?
- Can you drive with a broken accessory belt?
- When should I replace my accessory belt?
- How often should accessory belts be checked?
- Does serpentine belt affect alternator?
- Can I drive without a serpentine belt?
- At what mileage should I replace my serpentine belt?
- How long can I drive if my serpentine belt breaks?
- Can a serpentine belt make your check engine light come on?
- What does a worn serpentine belt sound like?
- What damage can a broken serpentine belt cause?
- How serious is a cracked serpentine belt?
- Is it easy to replace a serpentine belt?
What is an accessory belt?
Accessory belts are used to drive the air-conditioning compressor, power steering pump, water pump and the alternator. In more modern cars one or two belts - known as the serpentine belt because of the way they twist around multiple pulleys - do all of these jobs.
How much does it cost to replace accessory belt?
It is very inexpensive to replace a serpentine belt whether it's broken or loose. The replacement cost is only going to be between $100 and $200 in most cases. The belt itself will cost between $25 and $80 while the labor costs will probably be between $75 and $120. Taxes and fees will be added onto these prices too.
Can a car run without accessory belt?
The short answer is yes, your car will start even if the serpentine belt is broken or missing. To get the car going, the battery sends power to your starter motor. ... However, you do need your serpentine belt if you want the car to run for longer than a few minutes.
Can you drive with a broken accessory belt?
It is best to not drive a car with a broken belt, even for a short distance. Get the car towed or get a mechanic to come to the car to replace the belt.
When should I replace my accessory belt?
Under ideal circumstances, your car's serpentine belt should last 60,000–100,000 miles. It's important to replace this belt as part of your vehicle's scheduled maintenance (even if it looks okay) to avoid it breaking while you're on the road. Not sure when your serpentine belt was last replaced?
How often should accessory belts be checked?
On many GM vehicles, the first recommended inspection is at 150,000 miles or 10 years. Though these belts often last many years, they can become cracked or frayed and need to be replaced. These common signs of wear are why they should be inspected at least annually on vehicles that are more than a few years old.
Does serpentine belt affect alternator?
The serpentine belt does indeed drive the alternator on most cars. If the serpentine belt breaks, the alternator will simply stop turning. The broken belt usually doesn't do any damage to the alternator, though that is a possibility.
Can I drive without a serpentine belt?
Under no circumstances can you drive a vehicle without a serpentine belt because the serpentine belt serves the important function of delivering antifreeze to important parts of the engine. ... Without the serpentine belt, the power steering pump, which provides hydraulic pressure, no longer functions.
At what mileage should I replace my serpentine belt?
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. Pretty impressive. However, some belts are manually tensioned and may need to be adjusted.
How long can I drive if my serpentine belt breaks?
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.
Can a serpentine belt make your check engine light come on?
A loose or worn belt will cause ticking or rattling noises, poor engine performance and overheating, usually triggering the check engine light. ... Most engines have timing chains, which typically don't require replacing.
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.
What damage can a broken serpentine belt cause?
This can lead to a sudden lost of power assist for the steering system, leading to the steering wheel all-of-a-sudden becoming very hard to turn. A broken serpentine belt may stop the water pump from circulating coolant through the cooling system, causing the engine can overheat.
How serious is a cracked serpentine belt?
A broken serpentine belt can surely lead to you being stranded. At best your battery will be dead. At worst, you can have issues with engine damage. It it rare for a serpentine belt to break in a way that causes engine damage, but it can happen.
Is it easy to replace a serpentine belt?
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.
