5 INDICATIONS THAT IT IS TIME TO REPLACE YOUR SERPENTINE BELT
                     5 INDICATIONS THAT IT IS TIME TO REPLACE YOUR 
SERPENTINE BELT
Paul Norman Jasper
Writer at autopartsu.com whose favorite topics 
include,  best replacement radiators and
 radiator replacement advice.
The serpentine belt is an often overlooked culprit of a number of mechanical 
failures for aging cars. Keeping yours working properly requires minimal 
effort, as the only maintenance required for these belts is checking the 
alignment periodically and replacing it as needed. The signs of a failing belt 
are fairly straightforward, and you should never hesitate to put off replacing 
your belt to avoid causing extensive and expensive damage under the hood.
THE OWNER’S MANUAL SAYS THAT IT IS TIME
Most modern cars that roll off the dealer’s lot as a new vehicle will have a 
60,000 to 100,000-mile life expectancy for the serpentine belt, tensioners, 
and idler pulleys. If your owner’s manual lists replacing the serpentine belt as 
part of your 75,000-mile maintenance, it is wise to take them up on the 
suggestion. These belts will wear out sooner or later.
THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON
If a pulley or tensioner goes out of alignment and causes the serpentine belt 
to slip, the hiccup in power transfer to vital systems in your vehicle will 
trigger the check engine light to come on. While that light does not always 
indicate a need for immediate service, it is smart to have a diagnostic run to 
make sure that catastrophic failure is not imminent.
VISIBLE WEAR OR FLUIDS ON THE SERPENTINE BELT
When you are conducting a visual inspection under the hood while adding 
washer fluid and notice that your serpentine belt is crooked, cracking, or is 
shiny due to leaking oil, you should pop in a replacement serpentine belt as 
soon as possible. A belt that has popped out of alignment will wear unevenly, 
causing unpredictable failure at the worst possible time. Oil and lubricants 
will degrade the material of the belt resulting in premature failure. If you see 
damage, treat it like the belt has failed completely.
SQUEALING UNDER THE HOOD
The belt is not always the first part of the system to fail. A tensioner that is 
bent or cracked will cause the belt to slip out of alignment. You may notice 
squealing coming from under the front of the car while idling, under 
acceleration, or even after the ignition engages. That is a warning bell that 
you need to conduct an immediate inspection and possible repair of a pulley, 
tensioner, or the entire system.
SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OR HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURE
It is called a serpentine belt because it winds its way around a number of 
different gears that connect to a variety of pumps and fans. When the belt 
gives out, your power steering will feel like it is seized up, the circulating 
pump for your radiator stops working, and even the fans that circulate your 
air conditioning may stop. The belt failure can damage all these other 
systems, raising your repair bill exponentially.
Modern cars generally use a tensioner to keep your serpentine in place and 
eases the replacement procedure for most models. Replacing a bent 
tensioner or broken pulley at the same time as the belt is always 
recommended to extend the life of your car.
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