Serpentine Belt Replacement
Operating your vehicle with an old, worn-out or damagedserpentine beltcan be unsafe for you and your engine. The engine’s crankshaft uses this long, single belt to run several components. Depending on your vehicle model, this belt may operate the air conditioner compressor, alternator, water pump, power steering pump, radiator fan and other accessories. Thus, it is important to maintain a healthy and strong serpentine belt on your engine. The best part is that you can easily replace a serpentine belt yourself even if you don’t know much about cars. All you need is a few minutes, two or three common tools and a new serpentine belt for your specific vehicle make and model to install the new part.When should you replace the belt?Splitting, tears, cuts and other signs of wear are a clear indication the serpentine belt has reached the end of its service life. However, newer serpentine belts don't show clear signs of wear around their surface when they become old and can run for over 100,000 miles before they need a replacement. For this reason, car manufacturers recommend replacing the belt at regular intervals. Check your car owner’s manual or service manual to see the recommended maintenance schedule for your particular belt.Removing the beltFirst, you will need to find thebelt routing diagram. This is a small square label located somewhere under the hood, inside the engine compartment. Knowing how the belt threads around the pulleys will ensure that you install the new belt correctly. If you don't find this label in the engine compartment, look for it on your owner is manual or just make a quick sketch of the belt’s route using a pen and a notepad to use as reference during installation.Find the automatic belt tensionerThe belt tensioner is a small mechanical arm with a single, idler pulley at the end. This spring-loaded pulley is used to provide tension to the belt. Does the end of the tensioner arm have a small square hole? Use a 3/8-inch ratchet extension andratchetto release the load off the tensioner. Does the end of the tensioner arm have a small bolt? Use a socket on the ratchet extension and the ratchet to rotate the idler pulley.Once you have installed the ratchet extension into the square hole or the socket over the bolt, use the ratchet to rotate the tensioner counterclockwise to relieve the belt tension. When the belt becomes loose, hold the tensioner in position and use your free hand to slip the belt off one of the pulleys, and then slowly release the tensioner. Finish removing the belt.Installing the Serpentine beltThread the new belt around all the accessory pulleys except for one pulley, usually the one you can easily reach as you hold the tensioner in the unloaded position. Unload the tensioner again as you did the first time to loosen the old belt to remove it. Next, slip the new belt over the last accessory pulley and slowly release the tensioner. Verify that the new belt is properly installed and centered correctly on every pulley.Start the engine and place the transmission on Neutral or Park. Apply the emergency brakes and let the engine idle. Now, go and check that the belt is operating properly around the pulleys. Let the engine idle for three minutes to allow the new belt to seat properly. Turn off the engine and close the hood. Now you know how to replace a serpentine belt and your car is ready. You don’t have to fear your belt is going to break and leave you stranded in the middle of the road.
