How do I know if my serpentine belt is 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.

What does a loose belt feel like?

A loose drive belt will often be noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose.

How tight is a serpentine belt supposed to be?

The required measure of tension in the serpentine belt is that it should not deflect more than ½ inch when twisted either way from the middle. If twisted more, the belt is loose, and if twisted less, the belt is too tight. Either of the positions does not work for the vehicle.

Can you drive with a loose serpentine belt?

Under no circumstances can you drive a vehicle without a serpentine belt because the serpentine belt serves the important function of delivering antifreeze to important parts of the engine. The serpentine belt drives the water pump, and without it, there is insufficient coolant flow to maintain the engine temperature.

What sound does a loose serpentine belt make?

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.

How to Diagnose a Loose or Stuck Belt Tensioner on Your Car or Truck

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.

Will a loose belt squeak?

A belt that is either too loose or too tight will often slip against the pulleys, causing the squeal. While the motor is running, pour water over the squealing belt. It the noise stops, it tells you the belt needs tightening.

How long can you drive on a loose 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. In many modern cars, the engine light will illuminate once it exceeds a safe temperature.

What problems can a loose serpentine belt cause?

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.

Can a bad serpentine belt cause vibration?

Can A Serpentine Belt Cause Vibration? It is also possible for timing belts and other belts to malfunction or wear out, just as the serpentine belt can cause engine vibrations.

Can a loose belt cause alternator not to charge?

A: Not necessarily. The next step is to verify that the drive belt that turns the alternator is properly tensioned. A belt that is “too tight” or “too loose” will cause charging issues that, in turn, will cause the problems your customer describes.

How tight should a car belt 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.

Can loose belt cause misfire?

The belt may oscillate between too little tension and too much tension. The belt will slip and catch, causing noise and vibration. This can cause a change in crankshaft speed that can be severe enough to cause the engine management system to think that a misfire just occurred.

Does serpentine belt affect timing?

Loosing the serpentine belt should not affect the engine timing.

Does the serpentine belt affect the battery?

If the serpentine belt breaks, the alternator stops generating electrical power. If that happens, your headlights will dim, the radio won't work, and the battery will die. The battery warning light will also turn on because your battery isn't being charged.

What three things should be checked when checking automotive belts for wear?

What is proper belt deflection?

desired belt deflection is 1/64 of an inch. for every inch of belt span. For example, if the span length is 32 inches, the desired. belt deflection is ½ inch.

What happens if I turn my crankshaft counterclockwise?

This will not cause any damage to your engine. If using the main bolt in the end of the crankshaft, you do run the risk of it loosening when turning it CCW ... but that isn't a big deal either. Just tighten it back up by cranking it back over CW, then get the crank back to where you want it to be.