How do I test my serpentine belt?

Here are tips for inspecting belts:
  1. Look for cracks, fraying, or splits on the top cover.
  2. Look for signs of glazing on the belt's sides. Glazed or slick belts can slip, overheat, or crack.
  3. Twist a serpentine belt to look for separating layers, cracks, or missing chunks of the grooves on the underside.
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How do you check a serpentine belt?

Lay the wear gauge in the ribs on the belt and run your finger across them. If the gauge sits flush with the top of the ribs, the belt is worn out.
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How do I know if I need a new serpentine belt?

The easiest way to know that a new serpentine belt is needed is if you hear it squealing while the engine is running. A heavy rainstorm might cause a bit of squealing, but if there are any fluid leaks, it's time to replace it right away.
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How do I know if my serpentine belt is broken?

Symptoms of a Failing Serpentine Belt
  1. Squealing Noise From The Front Of The Car. If you begin to notice a squealing noise emanating from the front of your vehicle, it could possibly be your serpentine belt. ...
  2. Cracks or Wear on The Belt. ...
  3. Air Conditioner or Power steering Are Not Working. ...
  4. Your Engine is Overheating.
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How can you tell if serpentine belt is to loose?

The serpentine belt should not be able to wander from side to side while in operation, but if its loose, it may do so, rubbing up against the lip of pulleys and creating a shiny or polished edge to the belt. If the edges of your serpentine belt are shiny, the belt is too loose and needs to be tightened.
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How to Check Your Car's Serpentine Belts for Wear



What does a worn serpentine belt sound like?

As these belts wear out, they can begin to squeak or squeal. They make noise because there is not enough tension on the belt, or because the pulleys are misaligned or weak. Often, simply changing the belt will make it stop squealing. The noise isn't usually a danger, though it does sound alarming.
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Can I spray wd40 on my serpentine belt?

If your alternator belt squeaks, or your power steering belt starts slipping, the noise can be infuriating. With this specially formulated spray from WD-40 Company, squealing belts are no problem at all. Just spray a little WD-40 Specialist Automotive Belt Dressing with the engine running.
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How tight does a serpentine belt need to be?

For most vehicles, the belt should not be able to be pressed down more than ½ inch. If it can be pressed lower, then the belt is too loose.
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What are the symptoms of a bad drive 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.
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Should you be able to turn the serpentine belt by hand?

The only pulleys you should be able to turn by hand when the serpentine belt is not in place are: the water pump, alternator, and power steering pump pulleys. The air conditioning compressor has a clutch on it that should spin freely as well but it will not be rotating the internals of the compressor.
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Can you over tighten a serpentine belt?

An over-tightened belt can burn out any bearing that the belt rotates on, including alternator, power steering pump, A/C compressor, idler pulleys, etc. An over-tightened timing belt can ruin any pulley bearing it is connected with.
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Can a loose serpentine belt cause rough idle?

So if you have searched for answers to the question, can a bad serpentine belt cause rough idle? The answer is yes.
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Can you spray brake cleaner on serpentine belt?

You can clean it with brake cleaner but it might cause the belt to squeak.
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