Serpentine belt (Drive belt)
Automotive illustrated glossary
 Serpentine belt. Click for larger image |
 Worn out drive belt with cracks and missing parts of the tread. Click for larger image |
To function properly, a serpentine belt needs to be under certain tension. For this purpose a belt tensioner is used. In some older cars a belt tensioner had to be adjusted periodically. If not adjusted in time, the belt gets loose and starts slipping, making a loud whistling noise. Commonly you would hear this noise at a startup or when turning the steering wheel to the limit. Most of newer cars use a serpentine belt with a self-adjusting tensioner that maintains proper belt tension automatically.
Today's serpentine belts are made from very flexible and durable material, but they still wear over time. Improper tension, excessive heat, engine oil leaking onto the belt increase wear and may cause the belt to break sooner.
A serpentine belt is a very important part of the engine. If it breaks, all accessories that are powered by the belt will stop working and a car becomes inoperable. For this reason it's important not to overlook serpentine belt during regular maintenance and replace it at manufacturer recommended intervals. Also a serpentine belt must be replaced if it shows any damage, such as cracks, tears, etc. A serpentine belt is not very expensive part and cost to replace it usually is fairly reasonable.
If you are looking for Do-It-Yourself car repair information such as serpentine belt diagrams our routing, there are couple of websites where for a fee you can get an access to an online repair manual for your car or truck. Follow these links:
• Alldata DIY - online automotive diagnostic and repair information
• eAutoRepair - professional service and repair information to automotive enthusiasts.
