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What keeps shredding serpentine belt?
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). Glazed belt grooves: Belt slipping.
What can damage a serpentine belt?
Common belt and tensioner problems that can cause a belt to break or produce noises
- Regular wear and tear.
- Oil leaks.
- Bad spring-loaded automatic belt tensioner.
- Problems with hydraulic belt tensioner.
- Manual belt tension is out of adjustment.
- Misaligned belt pulley.
- Noisy idler pulley or tensioner bearing.
What causes a serpentine belt to fail?
Serpentine belts can fail in a few different ways. This is usually the result of a belt in poor condition, or a problem with one of the accessory components being driven by the belt. A failed bearing in a pulley being driven by the serpentine belt will also cause the belt to break.
How do you stop a serpentine belt from slipping?
You should apply belt dressing to your serpentine belt every month or every 3,000 miles to prolong its life and to prevent it from slipping. Sometimes, depending on the cause of the squeak. Belt dressing is intended as a tool to help you maintain your belts.
How many years will a serpentine belt last?
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.
How is a serpentine belt used in an engine?
Belt tensioner providing pressure against the back of a serpentine belt in an automobile engine. A serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine, such as an alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor, air pump, etc.
Can a car run without a serpentine belt?
A car simply cannot run without a working serpentine belt. If the belt breaks or works itself off of its pulley system during operation, the car will immediately lose its ability to cool the engine, charge the battery, engage the automatic steering or run the air conditioner.
What happens if your car’s pulley belt breaks?
If the belt breaks or works itself off of its pulley system during operation, the car will immediately lose its ability to cool the engine, charge the battery, engage the automatic steering or run the air conditioner.
What does the smooth side of the belt do?
On some engine designs, the “back” (smooth side) of the belt may drive some accessories. This is typically limited to components requiring less torque or where a large angle of wrap is present. Such accessories will counter-rotate vs. the “normal” pulleys.