The serpentine belt also known as the accessory belt is the belt on your engine that winds around the components of the vehicle that need auxiliary power. It has distinctive ridges running its entire length on one side, which make it very easy to identify. These ridges play a crucial role in the functioning of the belt as they ensure a good grip when moving the accessory pulleys.
In this guide, we will discuss the serpentine belt system, how it works and how often you should replace the serpentine belt.
What Is a Serpentine Belt?
The serpentine belt is a flat drive belt that supplies power to the engine components such as air conditioner, water pump, radiator fans and power steering pump. All the engine accessories will not spin at the proper speed if the serpentine belt breaks or gets contaminated,
Moreover, a broken belt can also lead to sudden loss of control over the power steering system and it becomes hard to turn. Unlike a broken timing belt, a broken serpentine belt does not cause irreparable damage to the engine; however, your car cannot drive until the serpentine belt is replaced.
What Is the Benefit of Replacing the Serpentine Belt?
The main benefit of replacing a broken or worn serpentine belt is to keep the vehicle’s engine in good working condition. When the belt is not in good condition or slips out of its way, the operation of various car accessories like the power steering pump and the alternator can get affected.
In some worst cases, a faulty serpentine belt can trigger a chain of problems that end up damaging your engine beyond repair.
Therefore, replacing your serpentine belt on time minimises the risk of vehicle breakdown and ensures safe drive.
Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost
The average cost of a serpentine belt in the UAE is around 200 AED; however, the service cost depends on one car’s model to another.
When Should You Replace the Serpentine Belt?
You can consult the owner’s manual to check when is the right time to replace a serpentine belt. However, generally, automotive experts suggest the replacement of the belt between 96,000 km to 160,000 km. You can also check for cracks or measure the thickness to identify if the belt is worn out or not; because keeping an eye on the serpentine belt’s condition can save your vehicle from serious breakdowns.
Signs of a Bad Serpentine Belt
A serpentine belt in your car can wear out due to excess heat and friction; therefore it needs to be replaced. Here are some common signs of a bad or failing serpentine belt.
Cracks and Damage Evident on the Belt
When you notice your serpentine belt showing cracks, signs of damage, or even excessive wear, it’s time to buy a new one. Considering the easy access to the serpentine belt, motorists should have no difficulty inspecting its condition as all they need to do is open the hood and look at it. You can also make sure it’s on time for replacement by keeping a regular check on it.
Squeaking or Chirping Noise
A damaged or faulty serpentine belt often slips off its track, which causes squeaks and chirps noises. Squealing also often indicates serpentine belt problems such as belt stretching or low belt tension. While sometimes proper belt tension and realignment can be enough to solve this problem, in some cases the belt is damaged. You can easily find a serpentine belt along with other car accessories and parts in the UAE for sale at reasonable rates.
Besides, squeaking sounds can also be coming from the timing belt, hence check both the belts when you hear such sounds.
The Air Conditioner Stops Working
While various things can lead to a weak air condition, a bad serpentine belt is often the source of the problem. The belt supplies power from the crankshaft to the air conditioning system, so if it fails, the unit does not get the power it needs. Therefore, if you turn on the air conditioner and it is not working or seems to be misbehaving, a bad serpentine belt is one of the possible sources of the problem.
Engine Overheating
A bad serpentine belt also causes car engine overheating. Since the serpentine belt powers the water pump pulley, a bad one means it will not run properly or even run fully. A damaged or worn belt will not activate the water pump, which means the engine will not be cooled, causing it to overheat.
This concludes our guide on what is a serpentine belt and when to replace it. The serpentine belt plays a crucial role. It transfers power to essential accessories such as the water pump, alternator and air conditioner to keep them in good working order. While these belts are designed to last a long time, knowing when to replace them is essential, watching out for signs like accessories that are not working properly. When it’s time to replace one.
Besides the Serpentine belt, other belts like the timing belt also need regular maintenance. Here is when to change a car timing belt to ensure the proper functioning of a vehicle.
If you like this guide, stay tuned to the UAE’s leading car blog for more.
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