Table of Contents
- 1 How do I know if my belt needs replacing?
- 2 How do you know if your car belt is bad?
- 3 How many years does a serpentine belt last?
- 4 What happens if you don’t replace drive belt?
- 5 How much does it cost to change a car belt?
- 6 How expensive is it to replace a serpentine belt?
- 7 What happens if your drive belt breaks while driving?
- 8 How long can you drive with a cracked drive belt?
- 9 How often should a drive belt be replaced?
- 10 What are the symptoms of a loose drive belt?
How do I know if my belt needs replacing?
Common Signs of Drive Belt Replacement
- 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 do you know if your car belt is bad?
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Serpentine/Drive Belt
- Squealing noise from the front of the vehicle. If you notice a squealing noise coming from the front of your vehicle, it could be from the serpentine belt.
- Power steering and AC not working.
- Engine overheating.
- Cracks and wear on the belt.
How long do automotive belts last?
They’re usually good for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Even so, don’t neglect your car belt maintenance. It’s still a good idea to have a mechanic check the belt from time to time. Usually they’ll do this as a courtesy if you’re in for an oil change or other servicing.
How many years does a serpentine belt last?
Under ideal circumstances, you’ll get anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles of reliable service from a typical serpentine belt. In terms of years, it may be anywhere from 4 years to an entire decade before you’ll need to replace your serpentine belt.
What happens if you don’t replace drive 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.
Can I drive with a broken belt?
Can I Continue Driving My Car If the Serpentine Belt Is Broken? Technically, yes, you can continue driving your car, but not for long. Without a functioning belt, the water pump can’t cool the engine. So, your engine will overheat very quickly.
How much does it cost to change a car belt?
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.
How expensive is it to replace a serpentine belt?
Can you drive with broken drive belt?
What happens if your drive belt breaks while driving?
This can lead to a sudden lost of power assist for the steering system, leading to the steering wheel all-of-a-sudden becoming very hard to turn. A broken serpentine belt may stop the water pump from circulating coolant through the cooling system, causing the engine can overheat.
How long can you drive with a cracked drive 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.
What happens if you put a new belt on a car?
This is because if you install a new belt and the oil leaks onto it, the belt will not last long. To work properly, a drive belt must be under proper tension. Most newer cars have an automatic spring-loaded or hydraulic belt tensioner that doesn’t need to be adjusted. Spring-loaded automatic drive belt tensioner.
How often should a drive belt be replaced?
In most cars, a drive belt is replaced between 40,000 and 70,000 miles, however, we have seen cases where the drive belt lasted over 100k miles. What makes the belt wear sooner? Water, road dirt, excessive heat and oil leaks can cause the belt to deteriorate prematurely.
What are the symptoms of a loose drive belt?
One of the symptoms of a loose drive belt is a loud squealing or screeching noise that lasts for a few seconds after the engine is started. Often, drive belts are replaced as a kit with the new tensioner and other hardware. Replacing the serpentine belt may cost from $75 to $250, depending on the car.
How long does it take to change the gear belt?
If you want to try replacing the belt yourself, use the following instructions as general guidelines. (Remember, every car is different, and changing the belt on certain cars may require special tools.) Changing the belt should only take about 15 minutes. Make sure the car is switched off and cooled down before touching any part of the engine.