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"Rich history" might not be the first phrase that comes to mind when looking at a seventh-generation Buick LeSabre, but there's plenty of heritage there if you peer a bit deeper. The LeSabre nameplate itself dates back to one of the most celebrated and radical concepts of its day: the Harley Earl-designed 1951 LeSabre concept car. While following iterations of the LeSabre might not have been as seminal as the original LeSabre concept, the "Fireball" V-6 introduced in 1962 certainly was. Based on a Buick-designed, all-aluminum V-8 -- later sold to British Rover, which used it for the next 50…
Some automotive niches are defined by the vehicle's purpose: sports car, pickup truck and minivan among them. Some, like crossovers and minivans, are defined by the market. But on Planet Car, maybe the smallest niche of all is small enough that's it can be summed up in a single car: The BMW 3-Series. Indeed, true 3-Series "competitors" have historically been so rare as be almost nonexistent. The C-Class is one of the few that lay claim as a true contender. With power aplenty, solid build quality, Mercedes innovation and even decent value for the money, the C-Class continues to keep…
You should always be on the lookout for a few key signs of trouble after your timing belt gets replaced. Learn about things that you need to know after a timing belt gets replaced with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
If the car is shaking after replacing the timing belt, the timing marks may not be configured properly. Find out what to do if your car is shaking after replacing the timing belt with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
Aligning the camshaft if your timing belt broke is something you need to do very specifically or you risk destroying your entire engine. Align the camshaft if your timing belt broke with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
The timing belt needs to be placed on a camshaft in a very specific way or your car isn't going to run at peak efficiency. Place the timing belt on a camshaft with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
A timing belt compression failure means that your timing belt likely wasn't installed properly. Diagnose a timing belt compression failure with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
Fixing a squeaky timing belt could require you to get an alignment or a few other basic solutions. Fix a squeaky timing belt with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
If you're experiencing engine vibrations after a timing belt adjustment, it can be a sign that the belt wasn't installed properly. Learn about engine vibrations after a timing belt adjustment with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
A squealing timing belt is usually a telltale sign that the belt is actually loose. Stop a squealing timing belt with help from an experienced automotive professional in this free video clip.
The F-150 is arguably Ford's best-selling pickup truck of all time, but sometimes, a bigger truck is needed to finish the job. While not quite as monstrous as Ford's F-350 behemoth, the F-250 Super Duty is also capable. The 2004 F-250 was equipped with 5.4 liter V8 engine as standard, but buyers could opt for a larger, more powerful 6.8 liter V10 that could make short work of any task ahead. Both engines still relied on a single serpentine belt to power accessories, like the alternator, air-conditioning system and power steering. Over time, the belt will stretch and wear, but…
You spent hours polishing and waxing your 1996 Ford Mustang for the cruise-in down the road, certain that you were going to win "Best in Show." You never made it to the show because on your way the power steering went limp and your engine died within a matter of minutes. Checking your serpentine drive-belt could have helped you avoid this situation. If your drive-belt has more than one crack within a 1/2-inch segment, then it is time to replace the belt. The 1996 Mustang was equipped with a 3.8-liter V-6, or an optional 4.6-liter V-8 engine.
Your 1997 Volkswagen Passat came with a 2.8-liter six-cylinder and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Your engine accessories like the power steering and alternator are powered by the crankshaft via a ribbed serpentine belt. If upon inspection you find that the belt is glazed, has excessive cracking or other damage the belt should be replaced immediately. Replacing the serpentine belt on your engine will require removing the air intake tube, but is well within the realm of the home mechanic.
Although your Cub Cadet LT1050 riding mower is designed to work for extended periods without major maintenance, flying grit and debris causes wear to the exposed cutting deck belt after extended use. Prevent unscheduled downtime by inspecting the belt frequently for signs of burning, fraying and cracks, and if it shows signs of wear, replace it as soon as possible. On the other hand, if the blades start hesitating, or if you hear a loud squealing noise coming from under the tractor while mowing, remove the cutting deck and replace the belt immediately to prevent it from snapping.
The exposed mower deck belt on your MTD lawn tractor Model 13AI699H088, is subjected to abrasion from grit thrown up during normal mowing, therefore it must be inspected regularly. However, although the engine drive belt is tucked away on top of the mower deck, it is also subjected to wear after extended use. If the blades begin to hesitate and you hear a squealing noise coming from under the driver’s seat, it may be time to replace the drive belt.
The fourth-generation Buick Regal was manufactured from 1997 through 2004 by General Motors. It came equipped with multiple engine options—two versions of the 3.8-liter V6 and the base 3.1-liter engine. The Regal also had multiple stereo options, including the optional “Concert Sound” system, which included small, embedded tweeters in the upper right door panels. The stereo head unit is set into the middle of the dashboard and is secured with small diameter steel screws. You must disassemble a small amount of the dashboard trim in order to access the radio removal screws.
In 2002, Jeep closed the door on the aging Cherokee and replaced it with the slightly more compact yet more refined Liberty. The 2005 Liberty came standard with a 150-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and had a 210-horsepower, 3.7-liter V-6 engine available. Replacing an aging serpentine belt on either engine is a similar process, just the location of the tensioner pulley varies. Jeep recommends inspecting the serpentine belt after 60,000 miles, then every 12,000 miles after that and replacing it if it has any defects, such as: breakage, missing chunks of rubber or fraying.
Timing belts may be quiet, smooth and inexpensive to produce and replace, but you can't help but question the logic of using a piece of rubber to connect the two most vital rotating components in your engine. Fortunately, most timing belts give plenty of notice before they either snap or fail completely; in this sense, the symptoms that accompany a jumped tooth can be something of a blessing in disguise.
Husqvarna YTH20K46 tractors use V-belts to drive the rear wheels and power the mower attachment. During lawn maintenance, the belts can become worn and damaged by small rocks and the abrasive effects of dirt. Worn belts can slip and cause a loss of power at the rear wheels and mower, or break and render the machine unusable until repaired. Husqvarna recommends inspecting the belts after every 100 hours of operation and replacing as necessary.
The 1997 Isuzu Trooper was available in three trim levels: S, LS and Limited. All three were equipped with a 3.2-liter V-6 engine that produced 190-horsepower and 195 foot-pounds of torque. The 1997 Isuzu Trooper engine utilizes three different belts to propel the belt driven engine parts. The tension on the belt is controlled by the swivel mounting bracket on the power steering pump. Adjusting the power steering pump will tighten the serpentine belt.
The 1997 Hyundai Elantra’s 1.8-liter SOHC four-cylinder engine produces 130 brake horsepower and 122 pounds-foot of torque. The engine breathes through four valves per cylinder. The 1.8-liter engine is a very close tolerance design, and the valve timing is critical. A timing belt failure would be catastrophic to the engine. Hyundai recommends that the timing belt be replaced every 60,000 miles or 48 months, whichever occurs first. The estimate is based on its previous service history.
The 1994 Saab 900 was produced with seven different trim packages; S-sedan, S- convertible, S-coupe, SE-coupe, SE-sedan, T-turbo and T-Commemorative Edition turbo convertible. The base engine in the 1994 Saab 900 was a 2.3-liter in-line four-cylinder engine that produced 150 horsepower and 154 foot-pounds of torque. Changing the drive belt on the 1994 Saab 900 involves removal of other parts of the vehicle. The serpentine belt on the 1994 Saab 900 should be inspected at 5,000 original miles and every 10,000 miles after that.
The 2006 Chevrolet Aveo has a 1.6-liter dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine. One of the cams operates the intake valves and the other the exhaust. This 1.6-liter engine has four valves per cylinder, making it a close tolerance interference engine. It's vitally important to replace the timing belt at 60,000-mile intervals to preclude the possibility of a failure that will result in extensive engine damage. This engine uses the water pump with its ability to rotate and tension the timing belt. A special tool is necessary to rotate the pump.
The 2003 Kia Spectra 1.8-liter DOHC engine has excellent power and fuel economy and is exceptionally smooth running. The engine, because of the four valves per cylinder, has very close tolerances. Because of this, the engine will not tolerate a belt failure, which will cause major internal damage. Timing belts rarely fail, but they all stretch. The belt on the Spectra must be changed at 60,000-mile intervals to preclude this possibility. This has been determined by examining the past service history.
In the 2002 model year the TrailBlazer, which was once just a trim level for the Blazer, became its own model in Chevrolet’s lineup. In 2003, Chevy introduced a 5.3-liter V-8 engine as an available option. This engine remained the optional V-8 in all trim levels, except the “SS,” through the 2008 model year. Replacing the air-conditioning compressor belt on the TrailBlazer’s 5.3-liter engine requires removing the main drive belt, but remains a relatively straightforward task.
Ford makes the claim that the 1.9-liter engine in a 1996 Ford Escort is a close tolerance “interference” engine. This means that if the timing belt is not checked and replaced prior to it failing, extensive damage will occur to the internal components. Furthermore, Ford does not go on to give a service interval for the timing belt. Taking its service record into account it is suggested that to prevent any possibility of failure, the belt should be changed at 60,000-mile intervals.
The 1997 was the first year of a new era for the F-150. Gone was the old-style boxy F-150 of old and in came an all new rounded body style. Also new on the 1997 F-150 was a base level 4.2-liter V-6 engine that cranked out 202 horsepower. The Idler pulley on the 4.2-liter engine helps keep the serpentine belt in-line with the generator and air-conditioning compressor and prevents the belt from wildly bouncing up and down as the engine runs. Removing the idler pulley from the 1997 F-150 is a snap, once you get the serpentine belt off.
The White Outdoors LT950H lawn tractor was equipped with a 23-horsepower vertical shaft gasoline engine. The belt on the LT950H propels the mower blades, through a series of intricate pulleys. There are three blades on the 50-inch mowing deck. The White LT950H had a 46-inch wide wheel base, and was fitted with a disc brake system. Replacing the belt on the White LT650H will help increase the performance of the mower deck.
Addressing its need to update its aging lineup, Oldsmobile released the midsized Intrigue in the 1998 model year. With its swooping body lines and modern appearance, the Intrigue was a drastic change from the Cutlass Supreme it replaced. The 2001 Intrigue's 215-horsepower, 3.5-liter engine used a serpentine belt to transfer engine power to the various accessory pulleys, including: the air-conditioning compressor, alternator and power steering pump. A spring-loaded tensioner kept constant tension on the belt. There are two ways to loosen the belt tensioner -- one is loosening the tension to remove and replace the serpentine belt and the other…
The power steering oil cooler is incorporated into the pump body in the Generation 1 Mercruiser Alpha sterndrive. This means that replacing the oil cooler is no more difficult than removing the belt from the power steering pump's pulley, removing the pump, installing a new body and oil cooler and reinstalling the whole kit and caboodle. If undertaken as part of winter maintenance, you get the chance to inspect the pump's critical internal parts as you replace the cooler.
The intensity of maintenance efforts usually reflect on the intended longevity of a vehicle's service. A vehicle expected to provide decades of reliable service, such as a fire truck, could get new engine piston rings and bearings as part of an outlined maintenance schedule. Such extensive procedures are almost unheard of for vehicles in private use, and advances in automotive technology have all but eliminated complex maintenance practices, such as valve jobs and major tuneups. Aside from the assorted filters familiar to most motorists, there are many parts of a car that fall under the category of "wear items."
The 1997 Ford Escort has an upgraded 2.0-liter single overhead cam engine. The new engine produces 110 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 125 pound-feet of torque at 3,750 rpm. The clearances in the 2.0-liter make it an "interference" engine, which means there's a distinct possibility of catastrophic damage to the engine is most likely in the event of a timing belt failure. Its service history suggests the belt be replaced every 60,000 miles.
The 1998 Chevrolet S-10 is available in two engines: the 2.2-liter four cylinder and the 4.3-liter V-6. Both engines use a serpentine belt with an automatic belt tensioner. This type of belt has a series of V-shaped grooves on the underside of the belt. When installed, the grooved side always engages grooved pulleys, while the top flat side rides against smooth pulleys. The belt stretches over time, and the automatic tensioner eliminates the necessity to manually adjust the belt.
The power steering pump pulley may present the heaviest work loads of all engine accessories at times. Tremendous turning force is required on the pulley for the pump to develop the high pressures needed to turn the wheels of a slow or stationary car. Steering a stalled car, or one without power assist, calls for monumental exertion from the driver when road speed is minimal. Older cars often had no power steering, and the large-diameter steering wheel helped provide leverage. Hydraulic pressure from the steering pump replaces this physical power. That is why slight discrepancies may lead to sporadic performance…
The 1992 Chevy S-10 was offered with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, 2.8-liter six-cylinder and a 4.3-liter six-cylinder. Base models of the S-10 had five-speed manual transmissions, but all engines were available with an optional automatic transmission. The belt removal and installation process for each engine varies slightly, but the process is similar and can be completed with common hand tools. Follow the instructions for your engine in the list provided.
When Ford introduced the new, rounder version of the Escort in the 1997 model year, it eliminated the popular GT trim level. After just a year, Ford realized its mistake and released a new high-performance trim level for the Escort and dubbed it the Escort ZX2. After the Escort’s elimination after the 2000 model year, the ZX2 remained for three more model years. The 2001 through 2003 ZX2 didn’t bear the “Escort” name, just its body. A single serpentine belt drives all of the 2003 ZX2’s accessories and replacing it requires removing the engine splash shield for access.
All models of the 1999 Chevy Tahoe were offered with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine and an automatic transmission. All of the accessories attached to the 5.7-liter are driven by the crankshaft pulley with a single serpentine belt. To route the serpentine belt in a manner that would drive all of the engine accessory pulleys in the correct direction, and to help take up slack in the longest gap between pulleys, Chevy installed an idler pulley just above the water pump, on the power steering pump bracket. The most common signs of a faulty idler pulley are a squeaking noise from…
Honda recommends that the timing belt be changed every 105,000 miles under normal service or 60,000 miles under severe service. The previous service history is the major contributing factor in its determination. Honda has identified the 2000 Civic DX engine as an interference engine. This is important because it is designed with small chamber cylinder heads and valve to piston clearance is only present when the timing belt is in place. If the belt should break when the engine is operating, in all likelihood the valves will contact the pistons resulting in serious damage. The moral of this story is…
Replacing a timing belt is kind of like swimming to China to buy tea; the objective itself is fairly simple, but you may have some problems getting there. The procedures involved in getting to the belt and sliding it on and off offer numerous opportunities for minor mistakes that may have serious consequences.
The Mercedes 190E was introduced in late 1982. The 1993 Mercedes 190E was equipped with a 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine that produced 130-horsepower and 146 foot-pounds of torque. The 1993 Mercedes 190E was available with two types of belt tensioners, and the gauges are the only difference between the two. The older style tensioner used graduation marks, like a measuring tape or ruler. The newer style tensioner assembly just had one thick hash mark to indicate how far to tighten the belt. The 1993 Mercedes 190E used a single serpentine belt system for the belt-driven pulleys.
If you are having trouble pushing and controlling the speed of your Troy-Bilt self-propelled lawn mower, then there is most likely a problem with your drive belt, located directly at the bottom of the mower. Before you assume that the belt is broken, you should consider adjusting the tension on the belt using the belt tensioner part located above the belt holder rod. If tightening or loosening the tension doesn't solve the problem, then you might need to remove the entire belt to inspect it for damage.
Husqvarna makes walk-behind mowers, lawn tractors and zero turn mowers that all use belt-driven systems for cutting, steering and transmission controls. To maintain these belts, a thorough understanding of where the belts are located, replacement procedures and maintenance aspects are necessary.
The GE WBB4500G0WW is a residential washer with 19 automatic washing cycles, four temperature settings, four water level options and a large-capacity, stainless steel tub. GE WBB4500 washers have belt-driven transmission systems. When the transmission belt wears out or breaks, the washer may sound like it's working even though the tub is unable to spin. Replace the belt in your GE washer to get it working again. The replacement process requires some disassembly, but the job should take no more than an hour. Consult a professional if you're not comfortable with the demands of the repair.
The hinges on your Kenmore oven door affect the speed of the door closing shut when pushed in, and over time, loosens with continuous use. The oven's door is prone to falling down if the hinge becomes too loose and requires routine tightening to maintain its tension. Once tightened, the oven door slowly closes and opens to prevent permanent hinge damage caused by slamming shut or open. Caution is necessary when handling the oven door, as it is heavy and can cause injury if dropped during adjustment.
Since its release in 1973, the Honda Civic has become one of the most economical and long-lasting vehicles on the road. The 1997 Civic came in five trim levels and three body styles ranging from its stripped-down and affordable CX hatchback model to its decked-out EX coupe and sedan. All versions of the 1997 Civic came standard with a front disc, rear drum brake configuration, but you could get optional rear discs in place of the drum on higher trim levels. When replacing a caliper on the 1997 Civic, you must bleed the system after installing the new caliper.
The stirrer drive belt in a Frigidaire microwave oven distributes microwaves inside the oven during cooking for even heating. If the Frigidaire begins sparking when in use or food heats unevenly, the stirrer belt may be broken. This part is separate and unrelated to the rotating turntable at the bottom of the microwave. The stirrer is located at the top, inside the cabinet. A device inside the Frigidaire known as the capacitor carries a high-voltage charge even when the appliance is unplugged. The capacitor must be discharged before replacing the stirrer belt.
The S.I. belt meter is a combine meter manufactured by the Ohio-based company S.I. Distributing Incorporated. Combines are large pieces of farm equipment that cuts large grains and then uses a threshing drum to separate grain from chaff. The grains is then sucked into a container for storage. The belt meter is used when the combine is in planting mode, to separate different grains and to make even rows. Combines come equipped with belt meters, but some farmers prefer to use after-market belt meters for precision planting.
Forklifts are vehicles with front lifter forks that are used for moving pallets on loading docks and inside warehouses. Clark is the name of a prominent U.S. company that specializes in manufacturing forklifts. The timing belt on a forklift is a belt that converts motion from the crankshaft to the camshaft. If the timing belt breaks, it can severely impact performance of the forklift and the belt should be replaced immediately. Installing a new timing belt will take several hours.
The 2003 Honda Accord began the seventh generation of the Accord, which was introduced in 1976 and was Honda’s second offering, after the Civic. For 2003, the Accord was powered by a standard 2.4-liter inline-four or optional 3.0-liter V-6 engine. These engines use a serpentine belt that is retained by an automatic belt tensioner. The do-it-yourself mechanic should have no problem replacing the belt.
A Toro Powershift's drive belt helps control the operation of the lawnmower's cutting blades. These belts can loosen over time and must be readjusted to ensure proper operation. Professional adjustment can prove costly, but you can adjust your Toro Powershift mower's belt even if you are unfamiliar with the parts on your mower's deck.
