 Engine Parts: The Serpentine Belt
Posted by carsandtrucks on Monday, December 17 @ 07:49:35 EST
The serpentine belt gets its name from the way it winds like a snake through a series of pulleys. These pulleys are connected to your cooling system, power steering, alternator, air conditioning and any other accessory driven by the engine. In the “old days,” manufacturers employed several belts to power these components. Because the serpentine belt can turn a pulley from either side of the belt the need for multiple belts has been eliminated. The major downside to a single belt is if it fails you loose all the components that the belt drives. The upside of the serpentine belt is it
requires virtually no maintenance. As they are self adjustable, that eliminates the frequent adjustments that the old v belt required. Also, a serpentine belt will last longer then the traditional drive belt. That is not to say they don’t wear out. When they do need replacement expect to spend between $60.00 and $100.00 for most vehicles. The tell tale signs of a serpentine belt that is in need of replacement is if the belt is cracked in several locations and each crack is within a 1/8 of an inch of one another, or if pieces are missing from the belts ribs. Some cracking of the belt is normal due to the way the belt winds around so many pulleys. The replacement of a serpentine belt can be accomplished by the do it yourselfer, with a minimal amount mechanical expertise. There are some things to watch for in belt replacement. Make sure the number of ribs on the replacement belt match the number of grooves on the pulleys. Also check the belt tensioner(s) for free movement. Take the time to clean the grooves on the accessory pulleys and you should be all set. On average you can expect a serpentine belt to give you 50-60000 miles of driving before it needs attention.
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