Serpentine Belt Repair Tips

How To Replace Serpentine Belts?

The serpentine belt is one of the most important accessories in any fleet truck and plays an important role in engine drive systems. Not only does it help power the alternator, but it powers the steering pump, air conditioning compressor and even the water pump. When the serpentine belt begins to fail, it will trigger the check engine light and cause ticking noises and poor engine performance.

If you are wondering how long serpentine belts last it can range from 60,000 to 100,000 miles in most commercial vehicles, so if you are a long-haul driver, you will probably need to frequently maintain and replace your serpentine belts and belt-related components. Keep reading to have all your questions answered about serpentine belt maintenance and repair.

What Is That Sound?

Slipping serpentine belts can make awful squealing noises from the front of the vehicle when revving the engine. This can be due to the extreme heat and friction it is subjected to from daily drives. Cracks, rib separation and other wear and tear can lead to failing serpentine belts. Other symptoms of a bad serpentine belt include engine overheating (since the water pump will not turn without the help from the belt); poor power steering and the A/C not working properly (a major bummer for truck drivers in the warm spring and summer months).

Are Serpentine Belts Easy to Replace?

Most commercial vehicle owners and operators will find that serpentine belts are easy to fix thanks to drive belt tensioners that, as the name implies, always offer tension on the belt. Belt tensioners play another important function beyond tensioning as they help to protect water pumps and alternators from excessive stress and premature failure.

Serpentine belts can only be installed one way – the right way. An easy way to notice if your serpentine belt is installed incorrectly is by checking on the pulleys which may rotate in the wrong direction. You won't want to leave this issue unresolved, as it can lead to poor operation of the alternator, steering pump, water pump and A/C compressor. If your serpentine belt is installed too tightly, it could lead to damage to the bearings, so you may need to consider loosening the belt.

Alternatively, finding a belt tensioner like Dayco's NO SLACK® automatic belt tensioners is recommended for no-hassle repairs. These belt tensioners feature a flat spring design to provide less operating range vibrations and resist cracking and fatigue. The benefit? Reduced risk of bearing failure due to high tension and an increase in driving performance.

Does Length Matter?

When it comes to replacement serpentine belts, size matters. If the belt is too short, it can cause too much tension and load tolerance on bearings, as mentioned. If the belt it too long, it will force the tensioner to work harder, and thus, lead to failure sooner.

Conclusion

The serpentine belt works with other engine drive system parts to keep vehicles moving forward. When in need of replacement parts for your engine drive system, turn to a trusted brand like Dayco. With over 100 years of engineering know-how, Dayco has helped truckers cruise the open road with quality engine drive system parts that last for all types of commercial vehicles. Dayco: Move Forward. Always. ™