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About Serpentine Belts

The serpentine belt is a continuous circular loop designed to receive power from the engine and deliver it into the belt-driven accessories, including the water pump, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, and alternator. When you open the engine compartment with the engine running, you will see the serpentine belt in action as it snakes around the pulleys. It is durable yet does a difficult job and it needs to be inspected routinely and replaced if it loses integrity or at the recommended miles.

Warning Signs of Serpentine Belt Trouble?

When a serpentine belt loses integrity, it usually comes with warning signs of trouble that can be identified with an inspection. Although we recommend that a certified technician inspect this component to know whether it should be replaced, you can also look at the belt to see if it has any physical damage signs. Here are the common warning signs of a serpentine belt in need of replacement:

• Visible cracking 
• Fraying 
• Rib separation 
• Squealing or whining noises, especially when starting the engine 
• Incredibly challenging to turn the steering wheel 
• Dead battery 
• Air conditioning not working
• Engine overheating 

If you experience serpentine belt trouble and neglect service signs, you will invite more significant problems into your driving experience, ultimately ending with a broken serpentine belt while driving. This will cause an immediate loss of power steering, and that is a big safety concern. Your water pump will also be offline, and the engine will start to overheat.