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.
What are the signs of a bad serpentine belt?
Common signs include a squealing noise from the front of the vehicle, power steering and AC not working, engine overheating, and cracks on the belt.
Can you drive with a bad serpentine belt?
There are a couple of factors influencing the answer to this question, but on average, your car should be able to run between 20-90 minutes with a broken serpentine belt. The engine will overheat faster without a functioning cooling system on a hot day, so your driving window is less.
Can I replace serpentine belt myself?
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today’s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
What happens to a car when the serpentine belt breaks?
If a serpentine belt breaks, a car won’t be drivable and will have to be towed. If the engine runs without a serpentine belt, it might overheat as the water pump will no longer work. A broken belt can also damage other parts. … If a car has a hydraulic power steering pump, the steering will become stiff.
What does a worn serpentine belt sound like?
Although there are a few causes of a squealing engine, one of the most common is a bad or failing serpentine belt. … Belt squeaking is also especially pronounced when accelerating, on startup, and when making a U-turn. The noise is loud and sounds like a squeal, loud chirp, or squeak.
How do I know if my drive belt needs to be replaced?
- 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 long does it take to fix a serpentine belt?
It can take anything from 15 minutes to an hour (two at the most) to repair or replace a bad serpentine belt with a new belt.
What causes serpentine belt failure?
Serpentine belt problems usually result from one of three causes: a defective belt tensioner; misalignment of a pulley; or, defective bearings in the tensioner, idler, or one of accessories driven by the belt (including the water pump).
How long will a bad serpentine belt last?
On average, serpentine belts should last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.
How often do you need to change your serpentine belt?
How often does a serpentine belt need to be replaced? Serpentine belts are built to last—much longer than before because of advancements in rubber technology. Under ideal conditions, a belt should stick with you for an average of 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
Is fan belt same as serpentine belt?
Sometimes called a fan belt, alternator belt, or accessory drive belt, the serpentine belt is spun by the engine crankshaft and, in turn, spins, or “drives”, the accessories. … The belt should be changed as part of your routine preventative maintenance schedule to avoid failure or breakage while driving.
Is a serpentine belt the same as a timing belt?
Timing Belt. Don’t get confused—a serpentine belt is not the same thing as a timing belt. … The timing belt is located inside the engine and keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in sync. This ensures that the engine intake and exhaust valves open and close in time with the pistons so the engine runs smoothly.
How much does it cost to replace a belt on your car?
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 long can you drive with a loose 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.
Can a bad serpentine belt cause check engine light?
A loose or worn belt will cause ticking or rattling noises, poor engine performance and overheating, usually triggering the check engine light.
Can a bad serpentine belt cause overheating?
Bad Serpentine Belts Cause Vehicle Performance Issues
The vehicle may frequently overheat. Your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly.
What are the 3 belts in a car?
- Timing Belt. The timing belt is a notched rubber belt that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. …
- Serpentine Belt. Serpentine belts, also known as drive belts, provide power to the air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, cooling fan, air injection pump, and more. …
- Hoses.
How do you check a serpentine belt?
- Look for cracks, fraying, or splits on the top cover.
- Look for signs of glazing on the belt’s sides. Glazed or slick belts can slip, overheat or crack.
- Twist a serpentine belt to look for separating layers, cracks, or missing chunks of the grooves on the underside.
Should you replace serpentine belt when replacing alternator?
Serpentine belts are standard in just about any vehicle from the last quarter century. And they’re crucial for running everything from alternators to power steering. In other words, when it’s time to replace it, replace it.
How serious is a cracked serpentine belt?
A broken serpentine belt can surely lead to you being stranded. At best your battery will be dead. At worst, you can have issues with engine damage. It it rare for a serpentine belt to break in a way that causes engine damage, but it can happen.
How much does it cost to replace an air conditioning belt?
It’s very cheap to replace a belt. Most cases the replacement cost is between $90 and $200. The cost of the belt will be between $25 and $75 while the labor costs will be between $75 and $120.
Is it expensive to fix a serpentine belt?
It is very inexpensive to replace a serpentine belt whether it’s broken or loose. The replacement cost is only going to be between $100 and $200 in most cases. The belt itself will cost between $25 and $80 while the labor costs will probably be between $75 and $120.