A serpentine belt that is shiny looking is referred to as a glazed belt. This
glazing happens as the belt is polished from slipping on the pulleys
; usually due to a lack of grip from belt wear, or a belt tension problem. Once a belt glazes, it will usually never grip properly, no matter how tight it is adjusted.
Should a serpentine belt be shiny?
Glossy or shiny edges
The sides of the V-belt that run against the pulley should be dull rubber. If they are shiny or glossy, that means the belt
is slipping
and it either needs to be tightened or replaced.
How long will a glazed serpentine belt last?
Serpentine belts typically last
between 60,000 and 100,000 miles
(although some claim that they last anywhere between 30,000 to 150,000 miles). Still, that doesn’t mean you should wait until the 100,000-mile mark to check on your belt.
What are the signs of a bad serpentine belt?
- Flickering lights on start up.
- Failure to start.
- Dimmed headlights.
- Continuously illuminated amperage light.
When should a serpentine belt be replaced?
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 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.
Will a new serpentine belt improve performance?
Not really
. All of your accessories(power steering, air-conditioning, etc.) put drag on the engine; which is why reducing the load from accessories (via under-drive pulleys or simply disabling the accessories) can help with performance.
Do serpentine belts crack?
Serpentine belts
typically deteriorate in
eight ways: Cracking, chunking, pilling, abrasion, misalignment, uneven rib wear, stone damage or improper installation. Cracking is by far the most common problem, but it does not necessarily condemn the belt.
Can a serpentine belt slip off?
Slipping can be the result of a
loss of belt tension
(or a weak automatic tensioner) or pulley misalignment. When the belt slips off the track, the friction between the belt and accessory drive pulleys causes the belt to overheat. If you hear a high pitched squealing noise, it’s probably time for a switch.
Can you replace a serpentine belt yourself?
You
can replace a serpentine belt with ordinary hand tools
. But we don’t recommend it. The spaces are often tight and the belt-driven devices difficult to reach. … The belt placement tool allowed us to remove and properly place the new belt without reaching down into the pulley area.
How far can you drive without a serpentine belt?
Grand Poobah. depending on your vehicle a serpentine belt runs your A/C, alternator, and power steering usually. You can go
1/2 a mile without
that. But, in some cars it also runs your water pump.
What happens if serpentine 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.
Does serpentine belt affect timing?
A serpentine belt may power the air conditioning, alternator and power steering pump on your car. …
A slipping timing belt will affect the engine timing
, resulting in the valves opening at the wrong time. This can result in decreased performance and even engine damage if left untreated.
Can antifreeze damage a serpentine belt?
Yes
. Antifreeze will cause damage the rubber compound in the belts. If you do not replace it now then it will slip and may cause the water pump installer to not warranty the work.
What causes a serpentine belt to break?
Serpentine belts can fail in a few different ways. … This is usually the result of a belt in poor condition, or a problem with one of the accessory components being driven by the belt.
A failed bearing in a pulley being driven by the serpentine belt
will also cause the belt to break.
Are gate serpentine belts good?
The Gates serpentine belt is a heavy-duty belt with
praiseworthy quality and resistance
. It’s resistant to heat and cracks, and it’s thicker than most OEM belts. … The downside of this product is that the heavy-duty construction comes with a higher price tag than other standard belts.
