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How Much Does A Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost?

A serpentine belt replacement cost depends on your car model, labor charges, and spare parts price in your locality. 

Typically, a serpentine belt replacement may cost around $100-$195. This includes both labor charges ($75-$120) and spare parts ($25-$75).

How Urgent Is A Serpentine Belt Replacement?

If you notice any issues with your car’s serpentine belt, replace or repair it immediately. 

Delaying a serpentine belt replacement can cause critical damage to other vital car parts like the water pump, air conditioning unit, etc. For example, if there isn’t enough power to drive the water pump due to a bad serpentine belt, your engine may overheat and even self-destruct. 

And if your serpentine belt snaps while you’re driving, you’re in for a host of trouble, starting with power steering loss which could be detrimental in heavy traffic.

What Signs Indicate A Bad Serpentine Belt?

Here are some signs of a bad serpentine belt:

• Squealing sounds: If the serpentine belt slips or isn’t aligned correctly, strange noises may come from the front of your car. This is most common on cold mornings when your car is warming up.
• Noticeable belt wear: You can pop open your hood and check the serpentine’s physical condition. An old belt will likely exhibit cracking, fraying, or glazing, indicating imminent belt failure.
• Power steering stops working: A loose or bad serpentine belt may fail to turn the power steering pump, leading to a loss of power. As a result, it may be difficult to drive your car, especially at low speeds.
• Air conditioner won’t work: If the air conditioning system stops working and you hear strange noises, a bad serpentine belt may be the culprit. You may also find that there isn’t any cold air escaping from the vent.
• Overheating engine: A bad serpentine belt can cause difficulty turning the water pump, leading to engine overheating. If ignored, it may cause engine breakdown and other serious damages.

4 Serpentine Belt FAQs

Let’s go over some queries based on the serpentine belt and their answers:

1. What Is A Serpentine Belt?

A serpentine belt is a flat rubber belt that’s ribbed on one side and smooth on the other. 

It basically transports power from the crankshaft to important engine components like the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, and water pump. In older vehicles, these parts have separate belts to deliver power. 

While having a single belt for all parts is efficient, it’s also why you should replace the serpentine belt ASAP if you spot any issue. Even the smallest malfunction can damage major car parts, affecting your car’s drivability.

2. What Causes A Bad Serpentine Belt?

Here are a few causes why your serpentine belt needs replacement:

• Defective belt tensioner
• Cracked serpentine belt
• Misaligned pulley
• Defective bearings in any belt accessories like tensioner, idler, etc

3. How Often Should You Change The Serpentine Belt?

Ideally, your car’s serpentine belt should last for about 60000 – 100000 miles.

However, you should inspect the belt regularly and get it replaced during routine maintenance, even if it doesn’t show any visible wear and tear. 

4. How To Replace A Serpentine Belt?

Since a serpentine belt is a vital car component that affects your vehicle’s driving performance, it’s best to leave it to a certified mechanic. 

That being said, here’s an overview of a serpentine belt replacement. 

1. Press the hood release to open your car’s hood and access the serpentine belt.  
2. Disconnect the battery and locate the serpentine belt. Based on your engine type, you may find the belt at the front of the engine or on the sides.
3. Then, inspect the belt visually for any cracks or damages. Check if any other parts are rubbing against the belt and fix it.
4. If there’s damage, look for the serpentine belt routing map, which you can find on a decal in most engine bays. 
5. Next, remove the tension on the serpentine belt. To do so, use a wrench to loosen the auto tensioner. If your car uses an alternator bracket, loosen its bolts.
6. Once done, remove the belt from the pulley. 
7. Finally, run the new belt through the pulleys (in the correct route) and increase the tension on the belt.