How to Check Your Serpentine Belt

The serpentine belt is an important mechanism for the good working order of your vehicle. Whenever you give your vehicle and engine a look, it's important to check the serpentine belt.

Instructions

1. Check your vehicle manual to find the location of the belt. It will be in your engine under the hood, but it's a good idea to see what the belt looks like and the exact location before you go looking for it.

2. Pop the hood and find the belt. Push on the belt with an index finger to make sure it doesn't move more than an inch.

3. Make sure the belt is not cracked or frayed. If it's cracked you will see visible cracks in the belt and if it's frayed it will look like strings are coming apart on the sides.

4. Make sure there's no fluid on the belt. To do this, look and feel to see if the belt is wet or oily.

5. Take the car in to professionals if any of the above steps have problems. A professional should look at the belt to make sure there's not a problem with it and keep your vehicle running well.