How long should a serpentine belt 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.

How do you know when a serpentine belt is going bad?

How many miles can you get on a serpentine belt?

Typically, serpentine belts last anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. Over time, friction and heat break them down.

How much does it 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.

How long did your serpentine belt last?

As a general rule of thumb, serpentine belts can last for years before requiring replacement. Your belt's lifespan will ultimately depend on the kind of material that it is made of. An older-style belt, made from Neoprene, usually lasts around 50,000 miles.

How Long Do Serpentine Belts Last? | Dependable Car Care | Ventura, CA

Can a serpentine belt last 200000 miles?

With that being said most serpentine/drive belts can last for a very long time before they need to be replaced. The lifespan of the belt will depend mostly on the type of material it's made of. Older style belts generally last about 50,000 miles, while those made from EPDM can last up to 100,000 miles.

Should I replace tensioner with serpentine belt?

Tensioners add pressure from an adjustable pivot point or spring mechanism to keep your serpentine belt taut as it circulates around the engine. There is no recommended timeframe in which to replace your tensioner, especially as the belt itself usually needs replacing before the tensioner does.

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.

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.

Does the serpentine belt affect the 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.

Is alternator belt and serpentine belt the same?

Sometimes called a fan belt, alternator belt, or accessory drive belt, the serpentine belt is spun by the engine crankshaft and, in turn, spins, or “drives”, the accessories. Cars of the past relied on multiple drive belts, but today's vehicles (usually) count on just one, the serpentine belt.

How often should drive belts be replaced?

It is often beneficial to change the drive belts in your car approximately every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. By undergoing annual car inspections, you can have your drive belts evaluated. If any signs of damage or severe wear and tear are identified, the belts can be replaced.

What makes serpentine belts break?

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 is the difference between a timing belt and a serpentine belt?

The serpentine belt is located on the outside of the engine

It's a long rubber band stretched out on the side of the car, connecting the engine to key components of your car. For instance, the timing belt spins the alternator, which converts engine power to electricity.

Can a bad serpentine belt affect the alternator?

Battery / Alternator Warning Light

As the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator, it will, of course, cause the alternator to struggle when the belt is loose. There is a battery warning light on your dashboard in most car models, which will light up when there is a problem with the charging system.

Can you drive without a serpentine belt?

If you're wondering whether or not you can drive your car without a serpentine belt, the answer is no. There are many dangers to driving without a serpentine belt. A car can only take out so much slack from other components before they fail and stop working altogether.

What does a failing serpentine belt sound like?

Think you might have a bad serpentine belt? A telltale sign is that the engine squealing comes from the front of the vehicle and that it persists. Belt squeaking is also especially pronounced when accelerating, on startup, and when making a U-turn. The noise is loud and sounds like a squeal, loud chirp, or squeak.

How long can a car run without 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.

How do I know if I need a new tensioner?

Grinding or squeaking noise from the belts or tensioner

The most common symptom of a bad or failing drive belt tensioner is noise from the belts or tensioner. If the tensioner is loose the belts may squeak or squeal, especially when the engine is first started.

How long do idler pulleys last?

An idler pulley is a simple device used to keep tension on an accessory belt. The pulley will fail eventually because it will wear over time. Replacement intervals for idler pulleys range from 50,000 to 100,000 miles.

Can a timing belt last 120000 miles?

But now you've got a 100,000 mile timing belt on your car and you've got these things that are designed for maybe 120,000 miles or so. There's no way that these various components are going to last through two timing belts - they're not going to last for 200,000 miles in most cases.

Can a timing belt last 150000 miles?

This is where all of the discrepancy of maintenance and replacement occurs. Depending on what schedule you may read, including information distributed by the manufacturers themselves, the average life span of a timing belt is between 60,000 and 105,000 miles or after 7 to 10 years regardless of mileage.

How long do belts last on a car?

They're usually good for 10 years or 150,000 miles. Even so, don't neglect your car belt maintenance. It's still a good idea to have a mechanic check the belt from time to time. Usually they'll do this as a courtesy if you're in for an oil change or other servicing.

How long does an alternator belt last?

Like all other automotive belts, it is made of rubber, and that means that over time, it can deteriorate. Usually, you can expect your alternator belt to last 3-4 years. You should have it inspected regularly – a good rule of thumb is to have your mechanic check the alternator belt whenever you have an oil change.