Is It Time For A Serpentine Belt Replacement? Ask A TIRECRAFT Tech

Known also as an alternator belt, fan belt, or accessory drive belt, the serpentine belt plays a crucial role in your vehicle’s operation, providing power to your alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning, and more.

As is the case with all auto parts, serpentine belts don’t last forever. They wear down, usually along the tops and walls of the ribs, as a result of the friction between the belt and pulleys. Over time, the grooves of the pulleys will bottom-out on the grooves of the belt, and you’ll start to experience some slippage. If it isn’t replaced, the serpentine belt will eventually break, leading to a lot of banging in the engine bay, plus a whole host of other problems, including:

• Overheating
• Malfunctioning air conditioning
• Power steering problems
• Vehicle battery recharging issues, and more

Timely serpentine belt replacement can save you from poor ride comfort, unsafe driving situations, and costly engine problems, but few drivers know how to spot the signs of trouble before it’s too late.

If you’re among them, don’t stress—you’re not alone, and your local TIRECRAFT is here to help.

Read on to learn how to tell you need a serpentine belt replacement, or contact your local TIRECRAFT to speak directly with a technician near you.

How to tell you need a serpentine belt replacement

As with all auto repairs, the key to smooth serpentine belt replacements boils down to early detection. Knowing the signs of an impending serpentine belt failure could save you a fortune on service costs:

1. Squealing or banging from the engine bay. Iif you notice some scary sounds emanating from the engine bay, you may be hearing the results of a serpentine belt slip or misalignment. Of course, accurately diagnosing engine trouble by ear is practically impossible—and if it is the serpentine belt, the only way to stop this noise is to contact a professional mechanic—so you should book a consultation as soon as you notice any strange sounds.

2. Your air conditioning stops working. There are plenty of reasons why your AC might fail, from a dirty filter to an AC fluid leak, but it is also a possible sign of a broken serpentine belt, since it is responsible for powering the AC compressor.

3. Your steering wheel feels stiff or sluggish. Your serpentine belt also powers your steering system, so if the belt is slipping or broken, you’ll feel it in the form of a major loss of steering responsiveness.

4. Your engine is overheating. Again, there are many reasons why your engine might overheat, but because your serpentine belt helps provide power to cool the engine, it’s a likely suspect.

5. Your serpentine belt looks cracked and worn. Most auto experts recommend inspecting your serpentine belt every so often, as you will sometimes be able to see cracks, missing chunks, rib separation, and abrasions with the naked eye. The more damage you see, the sooner you’ll need to book a serpentine belt replacement.

6. Your last serpentine belt replacement was over 5 years or 100,000km ago. Under normal conditions, you will need to replace your serpentine belt every 4 to 6 years. If you live in areas with extreme temperatures or high humidity, more frequent replacements may be required.

Book a serpentine belt replacement: Contact TIRECRAFT

To speak with a tech and get a free quote on a serpentine belt replacement for your work or personal vehicle, contact your local TIRECRAFT.

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