How long does a serpentine belt last after it starts squealing?

The good news is a serpentine belt can last up to 50,000 miles or five years, with proper maintenance, before it needs replacing.

How long can you drive on a squealing serpentine belt?

That's why it's recommended that the serpentine belt is replaced early when the squealing symptoms are first noticed. Although it may be safe to drive with the squealing for a few days or weeks, the belt will eventually need to be replaced, and for safety, the earlier it's repaired, the better.

What is the average cost to replace a serpentine 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.

What happens if a serpentine belt breaks while driving?

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.

Why is my car making a high pitched squealing noise?

High-Pitched Squeal

You may hear this sound while accelerating or right after starting when the engine is cold. A loose or worn fan belt, also known as the serpentine belt, is usually the cause. Replacing this belt or belt pulley should eliminate the sound. Consider having the timing belt checked as well.

How to Fix a Squeaky Belt (figure out where the squeak is coming from)

What does it sound like when a serpentine belt goes bad?

The serpentine belt (also known as a fan belt, alternator belt, or drive belt) is a critical car component. Hearing a sharp squeaking noise or a loud grinding noise are tell-tale signs of wear. It's your car telling you something's not right, and it may be your car's broken or old belt.

How long do serpentine belts last?

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. Pretty impressive.

When should I replace my serpentine belt?

Under ideal circumstances, your car's serpentine belt should last 60,000–100,000 miles. It's important to replace this belt as part of your vehicle's scheduled maintenance (even if it looks okay) to avoid it breaking while you're on the road.

What causes belt squeal?

The belt squeals because there is improper tension in the belt drive system. This is usually caused by a worn automatic tensioner, but other causes can include a contaminated belt (oil, belt dressing, etc.) or a belt that is too long or worn out.

Is it safe to drive a car that squeaks?

Belt pulley squeals/chirps/squawks: Most drivers have heard this one at least once in their commuting careers. About the only time it's safe to ignore this is when it only occurs momentarily on start-up on cold damp mornings.

Is it safe to drive a squeaking car?

A squeaking noise coming from your car's suspension could signal a significant problem. The suspension system absorbs the shocks and vibrations from bumps, potholes and other defects on the road. It normally provides a smooth ride, but a squealing noise could indicate wear and tear in the springs or shock absorbers.

Can a bad alternator cause belt to squeal?

If you hear a squealing or whirring noise in front of your car, whether the belt noise goes away when warm or not, it could be so annoying and embarrassing. This squealing noise is mostly caused by a bad serpentine belt. It becomes more annoying if the alternator belt squeals after replacement.

How long can a car run without a serpentine 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.

Does serpentine belt affect transmission?

A Broken Serpentine Belt Could Ruin the Transmission

If your car's serpentine belt breaks, the transmission could be damaged. Almost as soon as your car's serpentine belt breaks, the engine will begin to overheat. Without the belt running, the water pump won't be able to adequately cool your engine.

Why is my car squealing while idling?

Usually a squealing noise coming from the engine compartment during idle is an indication of a loose or worn out belt or pulley. However, it can also be a transmission issue if it's low on transmission fluid or there is a blockage inside the transmission lines.

Why does my serpentine belt squeal when I accelerate?

A squealing noise, often heard at engine startup, sudden acceleration, air conditioning turn-on, or during a U-turn is typically caused by belt slippage due to improper tension and/or a badly glazed belt. Serpentine belt systems typically employ a spring loaded belt tensioning pulley and sometimes these can go soft.

Can low oil cause squealing?

Driving with low oil won't cause a squeaking sound. But it will cause other sounds. Insufficient levels of oil will lead to clicking or ticking sounds when driving. However, keep in mind that even with decent oil levels, the ticking sounds can still occur.

Does the serpentine belt affect the battery?

Bad Serpentine Belts Cause Vehicle Performance Issues

You may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt. Additional signs of a possibly bad serpentine belt include: Flickering lights on start up. Failure to start.

Can I drive my car with a broken serpentine 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. For instance, without power steering, you're likely to get exhausted very quickly from driving. Still, that's not the worst part.

Can I replace a 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.

Is a fan belt the same as a serpentine belt?

Fan belts – also known as serpentine belt or accessory drive belts – take the engine's rotation and use it to power the: engine water pump, fan, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, alternator, supercharger and others.