How important is a serpentine belt

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 happens if you don't replace serpentine belt?

You’ll lose power steering, the A/C will quit, your battery will eventually die, and the engine might overheat. Plus, it could also damage the engine accessories it controls. This is why it is so important to get your serpentine belt replaced on a regular schedule.

How long can a car run without serpentine belt?

How long will my car run with a broken 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.

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 serious is a serpentine belt?

Bad Serpentine Belts Cause Vehicle Performance Issues The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly. You may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt.

How do I know if my belt needs replacing?

Strange Noises. One of the biggest signs that you probably need to take your vehicle to the dealership for a check is when you start hearing strange noises coming from your engine. …
Visual Signs of Wear. …
Mileage Indicators. …
Breakage is Bad.

How expensive is it to replace a serpentine 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.

What causes serpentine belt failure?

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).

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.

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.

Article first time published on

How long does the serpentine belt last?

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 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.

Can a bad serpentine belt cause shifting problems?

The serpentine belt drives your power and essential accessories. The belt can drive the water pump and it drives the alternator. The belt can drive the power steering pump and AC compressor. But the serpentine belt has *nothing* to do with your transmission.

How long does it take to change 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 you change belts in your car?

A good rule of thumb is to replace your V-Belt every 30,000 miles, while your serpentine belt and timing belt should be replaced every 50,000, although these numbers vary depending on the make and model of your car.

Why do brand new serpentine belts squeal?

Belt or Pulley Misalignment What is this? Belt or pulley misalignment is a common issue that causes changed serpentine belts to still squealing. Misalignment means that the grooves on your belt are not aligned with the ones on your pulley. It also tells that you shift the belt a bit in or out in one of the pulleys.

Are belts expensive to replace?

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 happens if your car belt breaks while driving?

A broken serpentine belt can lead to a sudden loss of power steering in your car, making your steering very difficult to turn. … A broken serpentine belt causes the water pump to stop circulating coolant through the engine’s cooling system, causing it to overheat.

What must you do before replacing a serpentine belt?

Most serpentine belts need to be replaced every 40,000 to 70,000 miles.
If there are signs of the belt rubbing on something, make sure to identify and repair whatever it was rubbing on to avoid damaging the new belt.

Should you replace tensioner with serpentine belt?

There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does. However, you should inspect your tensioner each time you service your car to monitor its condition and replace it if necessary.

Should you replace serpentine belt when replacing alternator?

Serpentine belts are standard in just about any vehicle from the last quarter century. And they’re crucial for running everything from alternators to power steering. In other words, when it’s time to replace it, replace it.

Can AutoZone tell me why my engine light is on?

You can. All that you need to check your own light is an OBD-II reader, which can pull codes that help you find out what’s wrong with your car. If you don’t have a code reader, keep reading to learn the most common causes, and then bring your car to your local AutoZone to find out why your Check Engine Light is on.

What is the most common reason for check engine light?

Replacing a faulty oxygen sensor — a sensor used to optimize a vehicle’s fuel-to-air mixture to increase gas mileage and reduce emissions — is the most common cause for a check engine light.

Should I worry check engine light?

If the check engine light illuminates, it will either blink or remain constantly illuminated, depending on the problem. A blinking light, or in some cars a red light instead of a yellow or orange light, indicates a problem that needs immediate attention. Either way, you should have the vehicle checked by a mechanic.