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 much should a serpentine belt replacement cost?
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.
Is serpentine belt expensive to replace?
It is very inexpensive to replace a serpentine belt, fan belt, AC belt, or power steering 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.
What happens if a serpentine belt breaks while driving?
If the serpentine belt breaks, the alternator stops generating electrical power. If that happens, your headlights will dim, the radio won't work, and the battery will die. The battery warning light will also turn on because your battery isn't being charged.
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.
What are the signs 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.
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.
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.
Can I run my engine without serpentine 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. The starter motor provides enough power to get your engine moving and the combustion process started.
What does a worn 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.
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).
Can a broken serpentine belt cause engine damage?
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.
How far can I drive without serpentine belt?
If you're wondering whether or not you can drive your car without a serpentine belt, the answer is no. There are many dangers to driving without a serpentine belt. A car can only take out so much slack from other components before they fail and stop working altogether.
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.
How often should serpentine belt be replaced?
60,000 to 100,000 milesHow 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. Pretty impressive.
What does a worn 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.
When should I replace my serpentine 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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.
What happens when you take the tension off on an air conditioner?
With the tension off, the belt slides off the pulleys. All rotating components — that is the alternator, air conditioner compressor, etc. — are checked for smooth operation and no noise. If everything checks out, the new belt is slipped over all of the pulleys while holding the tensioner away from the belt.
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.
How does a serpentine belt work?
How does the serpentine belt work? As the engine's crankshaft pulley turns it drives the serpentine belt. In turn, the belt drives the pulleys for the other systems including the air conditioning, alternator, water pump, cooling fan, and power steering.
Why does my serpentine belt make a squealing noise?
The noise is caused by the belt slipping on the pulleys, insufficiently driving them.
What does the water pump do?
It drives the alternator that powers the electrical system and recharges the battery. It also drives the power steering pump, the air conditioning compressor , and the water pump. (The water pump circulates coolant through the cooling system ).
What is the purpose of serpentine belts?
It also has to generate electricity, assist with power steering, cool off the passengers, and keep itself cool. The serpentine belt - sometimes referred to as the fan belt, alternator belt, or accessory drive belt - is used to spin, or "drive," several components attached to the engine. It drives the alternator that powers ...
Can a power steering belt come off?
Loss of air conditioning, electrical power, power steering, or water pump and fan drive are possible depending on the severity of the wear. If left for too long the belt can shred or come off of the pulleys. The belt should be inspected as soon as is convenient to protect against becoming stranded.
Why is my water pump belt so tight?
A belt that is too tight puts too much load on the bearings in each of the accessory pulleys and can often cause premature failure of those components. One of the most common failure modes for water pumps is actually bearing failure, caused by a serpentine belt that was too tight.
Why does my air conditioner not blow out cool air?
A malfunctioning air conditioner can be attributed to a lot of things. Since the serpentine belt keeps the air conditioner functional, a bad serpentine belt will take that function away from it. If you turn on your air conditioner and see that it does not blow out cool air from the air vents, this could possibly be due to a bad serpentine belt.
What is the difference between a serpentine belt and a V belt?
Serpentine Belt vs V-Belt. Older engines have v-belts instead of serpentine belts. These are thinner and smaller than serpentine belts and usually connect one accessory to the crankshaft. You’ll often see multiple v-belts in an engine, but only one serpentine belt.
What are the accessories that are needed for a power steering pump?
Some of the main accessories include a power steering pump, alternator, air conditioning compressor, and water pump. However, these devices cannot function properly without the help of a serpentine belt. This one long continuous belt is the force that drives many of the engine’s peripheral devices. There is usually a belt tensioner ...
How to tell if serpentine belt is bad?
If you want to know if your belt is bad, simply open the hood and look at the belt for yourself. If you notice visible cracks or damage to anywhere on the belt , this means the belt is bad and needs to be replaced right away.
What happens if you wear a serpentine belt?
If you have a damaged or worn serpentine belt, then it won’t be able to activate the water pump. This means that your engine will begin to overheat since it cannot be cooled down anymore.
Why is power steering hard to steer?
Power steering is what gives drivers the ability to smoothly steer their vehicle without needing to apply too much arm strength. If you have a bad serpentine belt, then it will be harder to move the steering wheel to steer your vehicle. This issue could also be caused by low power steering fluid.
How to release tension on pulley?
Many have a ½” square cast into the tensioner arm, in which you insert a ½” breaker bar, or Belt Tensioner Tool to relieve the tension. Many others, you use a socket on the pulley itself to do this.
How to replace serpentine 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 up top. Belt tensioners are mostly spring tension. Once installed, the spring retains pressure to the belt. Once on, make sure the belt is completely on and centered on each pulley very carefully. Then, start the engine. Let the engine idle for at least 60 seconds as you make sure the serpentine belt is working correctly. Replace any other parts or coverings you’ve removed before taking your vehicle for a spin. A serpentine belt replacement is an essential part of routine auto maintenance, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Get the parts you need from AutoZone.
Why are serpentine belts called serpentine belts?
Serpentine belts have that name for a reason. They snake in and out of a series of pulleys and peripherals, and the path they weave through is unique to your model vehicle. To preserve the belt’s position, take a few snapshots from different angles or sketch the way it winds through the engine.
What happens if a serpentine belt goes bad?
What Happens When the Serpentine Belt Goes Bad? 1 Squealing from power steering or air conditioning: The serpentine belt controls peripherals such as power steering and air conditioning, and these devices take a lot of torque from the belt to turn, so if you turn the wheel, or turn on the AC and hear squealing, the chances are, your belt has worn. 2 Wear and tear: If a visual inspection of the serpentine belt reveals significant wear and tear, including cracks, separation, or damage, it’s time for a new belt. 3 Squealing noise under the hood: This may signal that the belt is slipping. Sometimes a new belt is not needed. The belt is kept tight through the belt tensioner. The tensioner is a self-adjusting pulley that maintains pressure on the belt to reduce slipping. At times, the bearings in the tensioner pulley become worn. This causes the squealing noise. Check these bearings when performing a belt change.
Why does my car make a squealing noise?
It could be a drive belt or serpentine belt. When rubber belts start to wear out, they slip and slide. This makes a squeaking or squealing sound.
What is serpentine belt?
The serpentine belt is aptly named for the way it snakes around the pulleys inside the engine bay. This long, winding rubber belt powers many of the important systems of your vehicle by transferring power from the engine’s crankshaft to the accessory pulleys. These pulleys rotate to power components like the alternator, power steering pump, ...
Why does my car belt make a chirping sound?
When this happens, you may hear a chirping or squealing sound. This could also indicate that the belt has stretched out and that there is a tension issue.
