How expensive is it 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.

Are serpentine belts expensive to replace?

It's very inexpensive to replace a serpentine belt, especially when compared to other vehicle parts. A typical serpentine belt generally starts at around $15 and goes up to $80 at most. Add to that the labor costs that can range from $75 and $120.

Can you drive car if serpentine belt breaks?

If you are wondering whether or not you can drive your car without a serpentine belt, the answer is firmly in the negative. 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.

How do you know if your serpentine belt is going bad?

Is a serpentine belt easy to replace?

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.

How to Replace a Serpentine Belt

How many years does a serpentine belt last?

Under ideal circumstances, you'll get anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles of reliable service from a typical serpentine belt. In terms of years, it may be anywhere from 4 years to an entire decade before you'll need to replace your serpentine belt.

Is fan belt same as 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.

How long can I 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.

What causes serpentine belt to wear out?

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).

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 many serpentine belts are in a car?

There are two belts you need to be familiar with when talking about car maintenance — the serpentine belt and the timing belt. The serpentine belt winds through your engine and carries power to several key components, including the alternator, air conditioning, and power steering pump.

Will serpentine belt make noise?

Common Serpentine Belt Problems

Worn/Cracked Serpentine Belt – Serpentine belts have grooves which fit into grooves in the pulleys. Over time, the friction wears down these grooves, resulting in a loose fit. A worn belt can, therefore, begin to slip, which is one of the causes the squeal.

How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt and tensioner?

The average cost for a drive belt tensioner replacement is between $211 and $239. Labor costs are between $73 and $93, while parts are priced between $138 and $146. Taxes and fees are not included in the estimate.

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.

What are the 3 belts in a car?

What belt squeals when I start my car?

What Makes Your Vehicle Squeal when Starting. Most of the time, the squealing is do to something called a serpentine belt. When you open your hood, it's the incredibly long belt that winds around multiple pulleys. It connects the crankshaft to other systems like the alternator, power steering, AC, and water pump.

How much does an engine belt cost?

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.

Does serpentine belt affect water pump?

If the serpentine belt breaks or even loses tension due to tensioner malfunction or even belt wear this can cause the water pump to not turn or pump the required volume of engine coolant which will in turn cause the engine to run hotter.

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 often should I change my 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. Pretty impressive.

When should I replace my serpentine belt?

The typical replacement interval for serpentine belts and flat belts today is around 90,000 miles – which for many vehicles means only once every seven to nine years! That's a lot of miles between belt changes. Today's hoses are even longer-lived thanks to much improved synthetic rubbers such as EPDM.

Why is my car squeaking when I drive slow?

Why does my car squeak when driving slowly? Brake pads and discs that have been fitted poorly or are worn down will often cause a squeaking noise when you drive slowly. When you press the brake pedal, the brake caliper clamps around the pad, applying pressure to slow down the movement.

What does a squealing belt mean?

Your engine belts make a screech or squeal noise usually because the rubber belt is slipping on the metal pulley and just like your tires spinning on the road, this causes noise. The belt may be slipping due to improper tension or because it simply has gotten old and the surface has become glazed, cracked or brittle.

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.