Serpentine Belt??!
- Thread starter miden851
- Start date
Someone will come in here and quote an owners manual from 15-20+ years ago and say 60,000 miles, which is ridiculous on everything but super special cases. Serp belts these days being made out of EPDM rubber last 100,000+ miles easily.
The camry in my sig is running the original belt at almost 300,000 miles. My previous truck had 200,000+ miles on the original belt. Unless you have a very special scenario I wouldn't even dream of replacing one until the 125,000 - 150,000 mile range.
The camry in my sig is running the original belt at almost 300,000 miles. My previous truck had 200,000+ miles on the original belt. Unless you have a very special scenario I wouldn't even dream of replacing one until the 125,000 - 150,000 mile range.
Gates and dayco both day 90k. By then the grooves are worn and the tensioner will be getting weak. And pulleys need bearings too.
I like them better than v-belts.
I just include a new belt and tensioner in my 100k timing belt intervals. All of the take-off's are usually in decent enough shape that I'd never worry about them breaking at that interval.
Mine needed replacing at about 85,000 miles and almost 12 years. It was the original belt.What's the community's take on a serpentine belt and how long one supposed to lastyesterday, today, and tomorrow?
I'd say 10 years or 100,000 miles is a reasonable rule of thumb, but I'd start checking belts at some sort of interval after about 60 thousand miles, just to see how things are with the belt and generally under the hood.
I had one start squealing then break on a trip. Since then I change mine more frequently, like 50K miles or so. There less than $15 for a quality name on Amazon or China mart - Bando, Gates, Goodyear. So I don't chance it anymore.
I replaced mine about 3 years ago while I was replacing the alternator. I had to remove it anyway, and a replacement was only around $30.00 at the time. So why not? I couldn't see the sense of putting the old one back on. And for a lousy $30 bucks, the peace of mind was well worth it.
15 years/150k is probably acceptable, but not worth the risk. 10 years/100k is better peace of mind. Underhood temps can also be a factor. Similar to batteries not lasting as long in the south.
Much of the above is irrelevant if you catch a sale on a new belt. On one vehicle, I was online shopping and happened to notice a belt normally $20+ for $6. "Guess I'll change that serpentine belt earlier than expected."
Remember to keep the old belt in the trunk for an emergency spare instead of throwing it away.
Much of the above is irrelevant if you catch a sale on a new belt. On one vehicle, I was online shopping and happened to notice a belt normally $20+ for $6. "Guess I'll change that serpentine belt earlier than expected."
Remember to keep the old belt in the trunk for an emergency spare instead of throwing it away.
This ^^^^^^^^^
Hot under hood temperatures dry out belts, and cause cracking and stiffening of the rubber. This can, and often does lead to premature failure. It's just not worth it to push it. Most are easily changed, for very little coin. So again, the question becomes what are you really saving by pushing it?
It becomes a risk vs. reward equation that doesn't add up.
They last a long time but I would imagine that a failing tensioner or idler pulley will accelerate wear.
I would replace the belt if you're over 50ks miles AND having the replace the tensioner/idler pulley.
Continental Tire Company says inspect 60k and replace 90k miles for their ContiTech belts..
I would replace the belt if you're over 50ks miles AND having the replace the tensioner/idler pulley.
Continental Tire Company says inspect 60k and replace 90k miles for their ContiTech belts..
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140k on the original accessory drive here...
Belt looks OK but I have a new one on the shelf. 2012 Touareg.
Belt looks OK but I have a new one on the shelf. 2012 Touareg.
I changed the belt on my Honda Civic at 100,000 miles. My Corvette had a bad harmonic balancer and it was changed at 70,000 miles. Most belts will make it 100,000 miles with no problems.
Some people with timing belt vehicles have had their serpentine belt break and get tangled up and jump/break the timing belt somehow. And of course that's really bad. So, another reason not to leave an old serpentine belt on there.
There is no pre-set interval on the life of the belt. Just replace it when it needs to be replaced 
If there is excessive cracking, if it's frayed, or you notice a loss of performance of something driven by the belt, or if the belt is narrower than it used to be and you see rubber splattered under the hood. Any of those conditions warrant replacing the belt.
If there is excessive cracking, if it's frayed, or you notice a loss of performance of something driven by the belt, or if the belt is narrower than it used to be and you see rubber splattered under the hood. Any of those conditions warrant replacing the belt.
Keep an ear open to older pulleys (tensioner/idler) losing their lube.
A previous owner could have replaced a belt and left the original pulleys.
A previous owner could have replaced a belt and left the original pulleys.
