Serpentine Belt Replacement for Your Vehicle When You Need It Most

Serpentine Belt Replacement for Your Vehicle When You Need It Most

Recently, my acquaintance contacted me from a Dairy Queen on the side of the road, where she was in a frenzy. A terrible noise had been heard by his father as he was driving his Ford automobile along the highway. First there was a screech, followed by what sounded like a whip slapping the underside of his hood. It was terrifying. They weren't sure what was going on, but after more investigation, they discovered that a black rubber belt had been partially chewed away from its pulleys.

Does the belt seem like it's still on there? I inquired.

"Well, half of it is," he said, as if the world were about to come to an end. "My father took off the bit that was hanging off, and now there is just half of it left!"

Have you had a chance to drive it? "Can you tell me how many kilometers are on that vehicle?" I had a question.

True,We parked it in this parking lot after driving it here. "I believe it has ninety thousand in it." He was really taken aback.

After a few more minutes of my friend's screaming about his father's mechanical faults, I decided to take a chance and instructed them to gently drive it over to my place. They did (which was only five minutes away).

This issue seems to be all too frequent among automobile owners who drive contemporary vehicles. The serpentine belt, which was both black and fractured and had partially torn itself beneath my friend's hood, should have been changed a long time ago, but it had not been. It was possible to avoid the situation in the first place.

Make sure to inspect your car's belts whenever you do a routine maintenance check. This will help prevent this issue from occurring. In the event that you want to do things yourself, make sure to check the serpentine belt after each and every oil change (or, if you use synthetic oil that doesn't need to be changed as frequently, check your belt every 3,000 to 5,000 miles) while changing the oil.

The serpentine belt was given its name because it snakes around multiple driving pulleys, giving the appearance of a snake. As previously mentioned, this kind of belt is seen in many current vehicles since it is simpler (and less costly) to install than older "V" belts, and it also lasts about 50% longer than older "V" belts.

The tension of a serpentine belt is maintained by a pulley that is spring-loaded. The alternator, power steering, air conditioning, and water pump are all connected by a belt, which assists in their operation. Because of normal wear and tear, this belt should never fail and cause you to break down on the side of the road. Preventing the issue is a simple matter of common sense. Simply inspect the belt for cracking, fraying, or if it seems to be worn out. However, even if the belt seems to be in perfect condition, it may be time to replace it. The manufacturer's suggestion (which can be found in your car's handbook) will determine the time period, but it's fair to assume that it should be changed every 60,000 miles, or every two to three years.

If the problem continues and you find yourself needing to replace the serpentine belt on a regular basis, you may have a more serious problem on your hands. The alignment of one of the pulleys is most likely out of alignment, which is the most probable explanation. It is possible that there is an issue with what is known as the harmonic balancer on a number of occasions. Despite the fact that this seems appealing, this component is placed on the front of the crankshaft. It's composed of three parts: an inner steel piece, a rubber sleeve, and a pulley with grooves into which the belt is designed to fit. As a result, if there is an issue with this, you will very certainly need to confirm that it is aligned using a straightedge. If you discover that it is not aligned with the other pulleys, you should get the automobile checked by a competent mechanic. The whole engine may have to be moved in order to complete the repairs.

Take your vehicle to a professional for an oil change and be sure to inquire about the serpentine belt while there. Make certain that he or she has completely examined all of the belts. If they propose that you replace your belt, be certain that they choose a high-quality belt. It is advised that you utilize the best-made, and most likely most costly, products available (usually around 18 to 45 bucks). Also, make certain that you get your belt from a reputable auto-parts shop, since various stores offer different brands and kinds of belts. Inquire with your technician about how the belt was disposed of correctly. Depending on whether or not it is a person's home business, you can consider taking the belt to a professional mechanical shop and asking them if they can properly dispose of it. It's a wonderful idea to stay in touch with Mother Nature as well! Finally, inquire as to whether your technician performed a belt inspection while the vehicle was in operation.

If, on the other hand, you're looking at serpentine belts, you've already won half the fight. Why not give it a go and see if you can make a difference? If you've got some equipment and a location to work, you can find yourself feeling pretty "handy" after you realize that the task isn't that difficult!

First and foremost, you'll want to invest in a new, high-quality belt. Also, be sure you choose a pulley ratchet that is specifically designed for your vehicle. You will be able to release the tension pulley later if you do this. So, fingers crossed, your belt hasn't come undone on its own yet. Instead, sketch down a rough diagram of how the belt will be routed around each and every pulley in your system. I prefer to sketch it in as much detail as I can to make it seem realistic. It is recommended that you go on the Internet for a schematic on how to properly position the new belt if your old one has already been torn off. At first glance, it may seem perplexing. Make certain you locate a graphic that corresponds to the precise date, year, and model of your automobile.

When it came to my friend's automobile, we created a schematic, but we were still a little perplexed until we broke the belt loose. As a result, we turned to the Internet for a second opinion.

Following that, we used cutters to cut away the remainder of the shredded belt. This isn't something we recommend. The tension pulley (the pulley that maintains the belt taut on all the other pulleys and pumps) should be located first, then the pulley ratchet should be pushed counter-clockwise. It is possible that you may need to use another instrument (such as a hollow bar) to provide more leverage since the tension pulley can be difficult to move. Remove the old belt from the machine.

After that, examine both the old and new belts together. Is the length of both the same? Is the number of grooves on each of them the same number? If this is the case, proceed.

Put the new belt around the other pulleys in the same manner as you did with the old one. Before installing them, check to ensure that the grooves in the pulleys correspond to the grooves in the belt. You don't want it to come loose while you're driving!

One final point to mention is that if the tension pulley is located below the automobile, it may be difficult to keep the pulley loose when putting on the belt. Perhaps you have a buddy who would be willing to assist you. During the aforementioned replacement of my friend's belt, I held the pulley while he checked to see that the belt was in line with the grooves and that it seemed to be in excellent condition according to our diagram. After that, make certain that all fingers have been pushed out of the way and gently let the pulley draw itself tight again, allowing the serpentine belt to tighten around the whole machine again.

It is important to double-check that the belt is positioned on each and every pulley, particularly if the pulley has grooves that the belt must fit into. Whether or not this is the case, try starting it up and seeing if it operates smoothly.

So, instead of winding yourself on the side of the road in a parking lot at Dairy Queen and learning a valuable lesson, make it a habit to regularly inspect your serpentine belt.