How much should it cost to replace a serpentine belt?
How much should it cost for a serpentine belt replacement? But what does a serpentine belt replacement cost? Of course, it depends on your make and model as well as labor costs, but in general a replacement serpentine belt costs around $70-$200 (plus taxes and fees), including around $50 for the belt and around $150 for the labor.
How do you replace a serpentine belt?
This is how I did it from start to finish:
- Drove vehicle up on front ramps
- Opened the hood and disconnected the negative (-) terminal
- Removed vehicle underskirt
- Removed the cover attached to the AC compressor
- Cut the AC belt with a pair of bolt cutters (I didn’t know if it would pop and snap me in the face so I picked something that I ...
- Released tension with socket wrench on the tension pully
When to replace serpentine belts?
If you suspect your serpentine belt is failing, watch out for the following symptoms:
- 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.
- Power steering and AC not working.
- Engine overheating.
- Cracks and wear on the belt.
How to replace a serpentine belt?
How to Replace Your Serpentine Belt
- Note the placement of belt. Serpentine belts have that name for a reason. ...
- Loosen and unthread the belt. Before removing the belt, you’ll need to release the tensioner, which automatically keeps the belt taut while you’re driving.
- Check for damage. After removing the belt, inspect it for signs of damage. Many belts wear out over time, but some wear down due to misalignment or other issues.
- 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 ...
How expensive is it to replace a serpentine belt?
But what does a serpentine belt replacement cost? Of course, it depends on your make and model as well as labor costs, but in general a replacement serpentine belt costs around $70-$200 (plus taxes and fees), including around $50 for the belt and around $150 for the labor.
Can you drive with a broken serpentine belt?
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.
How do I know if my serpentine belt is going bad?
Bad Serpentine Belt SymptomsWarning Lights on dashboard. ... Heavy steering. ... Cracked serpentine belt. ... Squealing sounds. ... Air condition not working. ... Overheating Cooling system. ... Car Engine Stops Completely.
Is a serpentine belt easy to fix?
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.
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.
What does a failing serpentine belt sound like?
As these belts wear out, they can begin to squeak or squeal. They make noise because there is not enough tension on the belt, or because the pulleys are misaligned or weak. Often, simply changing the belt will make it stop squealing. The noise isn't usually a danger, though it does sound alarming.
How long can I drive with a bad serpentine belt?
between 20-90 minutesThere 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.
What happens if a belt breaks while driving?
Your car cannot run with a broken timing belt. By the time the belt snaps, the damage is already done, and you will not be able to drive at all. You will need to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair workshop.
Is a serpentine belt the same as a timing belt?
You can easily tell the difference between the two when you look at the grooves. A timing belt has horizontal “teeth” designed to fit the cogwheels of the crankshaft and camshaft. A serpentine belt has multiple V-shaped grooves that run vertically along the belt.
What causes a serpentine belt to break?
Serpentine belt problems usually result from one of three causes: a defective belt tensioner; misalignment of a pulley; or, defective bearings in the tensioner, idler, or one of accessories driven by the belt (including the water pump).
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.
How many serpentine belts are in a car?
one beltHow many belts do most vehicles have? Today, there's one belt to run them all—well, for the majority of vehicles. It's called the serpentine belt. Some rides may have an additional belt to run select accessories, but the serpentine does the bulk of the work.
How far can you drive a car with a broken 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.
What happens if a belt breaks while driving?
Your car cannot run with a broken timing belt. By the time the belt snaps, the damage is already done, and you will not be able to drive at all. You will need to have the vehicle towed to an auto repair workshop.
How far can I drive my car without a serpentine belt?
There are a few variables involved in the answer, but it should be able to run between 20 to 90 minutes. If it is a hot summer day, your engine can overheat very quickly without the coolant being pumped through the radiator. In many modern cars, the engine light will illuminate once it exceeds a safe temperature.
What damage can a broken serpentine belt cause?
4. Your Engine is Overheating. The serpentine belt helps provide the power needed to cool the car's engine, so a failed belt can result in your engine overheating, due to the water pump's inability to run from the broken belt.
What is serpentine belt?
The serpentine belt is how your engine sends mechanical power from the crankshaft to various components such as the alternator , air conditioning compressor, and power steering just to name a few . This flat, rubber belt is ribbed on one side and smooth on the other.
How to tell if a serpentine belt is bad?
Common Symptoms of a Bad Serpentine Belt 1 Squealing noise especially after driving through a puddle 2 Cracks, visible damage, or glazed appearance
Can a serpentine belt cause a check engine light?
A failed serpentine belt won’t lead to any check engine light issues, but it could cause severe engine damage if the belt is supposed to be connected to the water pump. This could cause the engine to overheat. Also, a broken serpentine belt will cause mechanical power steering systems to stop working, which could possibly cause an accident.
Can a serpentine belt be replaced?
Unlike older vehicles that used several belts, the serpentine belt allows engines to do this work with just a single belt. Most repair shops will recommend a serpentine belt replacement on mileage alone as preventive maintenance, but sometimes the belt shows signs of wear either through cracks, physical damage, or even a slick, glazed finish.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt?
Serpentine belt replacement ranges from $40 to $220 and it depends on the car you drive, your mechanic’s pay rate, and where you live. For the parts alone, you may pay around $20 to $50 but if they’re hard to access or install then that could boost up the price.
How did we get these estimates?
We gathered information from hundreds of different message boards and third-party quote engines to give you a better idea about how much it costs for labor as well as parts.
Serpentine belt details
The serpentine belt is an important part of the engine. It is located in front of the engine and usually under a cover. It is an important component of the engine that rotates the crankshaft and cams synchronously, ensuring that each cylinder ignites at the right time
The serpentine belt repair process
If you do not know how to work on the engine, you will need help from an experienced professional mechanic to replace the drive belt. If you are good at mechanics, you can replace it at home by following the steps below:
Common signs of a malfunctioning serpentine belt
If the car has a broken drive belt, the engine will not be able to start and work properly. You can hear the engine starter start when you turn the ignition key, but because the drive belt drives the crankshaft and camshaft, it will not start.
Find Your Cost
What is a Serpentine Belt? Symptoms of a broken Serpentine Belt How urgent is a Serpentine Belt replacement? Related repairs How can we help?
What is a Serpentine Belt?
Don’t worry, it’s just a name for a car part. Though I'm sure there have been cases of snakes popping out from under the hood. A serpentine belt is a modern drive belt or fan belt. It’s responsible for transferring rotational force from the engine to different components in the car.
Symptoms of a broken Serpentine Belt
Look, I know the check engine light seems so insignificant. Well, it isn't. The check engine warning light is actually pretty important. If your car’s serpentine belt is failing, then systems will stop working, your car’s computers will be alerted, and the check engine light is likely to come on.
How urgent is a Serpentine Belt replacement?
Depends. Do you want an engine that overheats, a battery that dies, and a lack of power steering?
What is a serpentine belt?
A serpentine belt is a relatively long, flat, multi-ribbed belt that is driven by the engine’s crankshaft pulley. The belt drives many, and often all, of the engine accessories such as the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, water pump, and air pump. The serpentine belt is tensioned by a hydraulic or spring-loaded ...
What happens if the serpentine belt breaks?
Additionally, if a deteriorated belt breaks and that belt drives the water pump, the engine will overheat in a matter of seconds.
How long does it take for a serpentine belt to overheat?
Engine overheating. Often, the serpentine belt drives the water pump. In those applications, if the belt breaks the engine will overheat in seconds to minutes. If the belt is inadequately tensioned, you may notice higher-than-normal engine operating temperature.
How many miles does it take to replace a belt?
Typically, belt manufacturers recommend belt replacement at 90,000 miles. However, the belt must be inspected for wear or damage at regular intervals prior to this high mileage. Squealing noise, belt slippage, visible belt damage.
What to do before removing a belt?
Prior to removing the belt, the mechanic must run the engine to determine if the idler pulley and the belt tensioner are noise-free. Those rotating components have grease filled bearings and are subject to wear. In addition, the mechanic will ensure that all pulleys and accessories are turning in the same plane.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt?
If you choose to have a professional replace your car’s serpentine belt, you can usually expect to pay somewhere between $150 and $250 to get the job done. Of course, the serpentine belt replacement cost will depend ...
What is serpentine belt?
A serpentine belt is a single belt that wraps around multiple engine-driven accessories fitted with pulleys. The serpentine belt also loops around the engine’s crankshaft pulley. An automatic tensioner keeps the belt in position. Whenever the vehicle is running, the engine’s crankshaft pulley turns the serpentine belt.
How long does an EPDM belt last?
Today’s EPDM belts are more robust, though, and often last well over 100,000 miles. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your car’s serpentine belt. You’ll want to replace the belt immediately whenever its integrity is in question. Installing a new belt is usually a relatively straightforward and affordable affair—and it’s cheap insurance ...
How to tell if serpentine belt is bad?
In many cases, the first sign of a bad serpentine belt is a squealing noise (caused by a glazed surface). Keep in mind, however, that a weak belt tensioner or misaligned accessory pulley can cause the same sound. Serpentine belts (especially those made of neoprene rubber) tend to develop cracks on their grooved side.
What happens if you ignore a serpentine belt?
If you choose to ignore a worn or damaged serpentine belt, there’s a good chance the belt will eventually break. When that happens, all of the belt-driven accessories at the front of the engine—including the alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering pump (if equipped)—will cease to operate. The water pump, which is driven by the ...
Why does my serpentine belt stop working?
Serpentine belts can also suffer from contamination due to fluid leaks (e.g., oil and coolant). If your serpentine belt shows signs of wear, damage, or contamination, you’ll want to replace it immediately to avoid any subsequent problems. Belt-driven Accessories Stop Working.
Can serpentine belts break?
Although modern serpentine belts are generally quite robust, they can eventually wear out or break. When that happens, you’ll likely notice one or more of the following symptoms: Serpentine belts are generally sturdy but can wear out overtime. Abnormal Serpentine Belt Noise.
