How to Tell When Your Serpentine Belt Is Going Bad?
The serpentine belt is a belt in a car used to power several devices which are not connected to the engine itself, such as the water pump, alternator, and A/C pump. While this belt can last the entire life of the vehicle, it can begin to deteriorate under heavy use. If your serpentine belt breaks you will not be able to drive your vehicle so it is vital that you diagnose issues and get it replaced as soon as possible if you feel it is about to break.
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Instructions
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1
Drive your car and listen to the engine. If there is a high pitched squealing or chirping sound coming from under the hood, your serpentine belt may be bad.
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2
Open the hood and locate the serpentine belt. The belt is a large black belt which will run through several of the vehicle systems. You should be able to see part of it at the first glance at the engine (it is thick and black).
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3
Inspect the portion of the belt in easy view. If the belt has visible cording or ribbing it may be time to replace. Look for cracks in the belt. Some cracks are normal, but if there are more than three cracks per inch or if the cracks are more than half way through the belt it may be time to replace it.
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4
Shine the flashlight into the engine area and use a dental mirror to inspect more of the belt. Be on the look out for the ribbing or cracking from Step 3.
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Tips & Warnings
Many times, mechanics will tell you that you need to replace your serpentine belt if it shows the slightest sign of cracking. While you should replace the belt when it is beginning to go bad, the belt itself will give you plenty of warning if it is about to go.
If you are not handy with auto repair, don't attempt to replace the belt yourself. You could hurt yourself or damage the vehicle in some way.
