Chances are, you’ll replace the serpentine belt at least once before you have to replace a tensioner. In most cases, you’ll replace the belt several times before the tensioner. But every time you replace the belt, you should check the tensioner. A bad tensioner could ruin a brand new belt.
Where is the serpentine belt diagram?
Some vehicles have the serpentine belt diagram located on a decal somewhere in the engine compartment. But if your car does not have a decal, you can easily look up the diagram in a repair manual or repair database. Another option is to take a photo of the old belt before removal.
How long does it take to replace a serpentine belt on a BMW?
With the right tools in your hand, replacing the belt won’t take you any longer than 30-minutes.
How many belts does a BMW E90 have?
Figure 1 BMW E90 models utilize 1 multi-rib engine drive belt.
What does a BMW belt tensioner do?
The serpentine belt tensioner, or drive belt tensioner, provides tension to the drive belts to ensure the belts stay in contact with the crankshaft pulley and the pulley that belt is meant to drive.
Can I replace serpentine belt myself?
Serpentine belt replacement is easy because today’s automatic drive belt tensioners eliminate the need to loosen bolts or pry components into position for retensioning. Just rotate the tensioner, remove the old belt and install a new one.
What happens if you put a serpentine belt on backwards?
If you put the belt back on in the opposite direction, the ribs end up in different pulley grooves than the ones they’ve adapted to over time. This means that the belt has to re-adjust to a new abrasion pattern, which will lead to a dangerous loss of belt tension.
What are the symptoms of a bad serpentine belt?
- Cracking.
- Abrasions.
- Rib separation.
- Uneven wear on ribs or belt.
- Malformation or melting.
What happens if serpentine belt breaks while driving?
This can lead to a sudden lost of power assist for the steering system, leading to the steering wheel all-of-a-sudden becoming very hard to turn. A broken serpentine belt may stop the water pump from circulating coolant through the cooling system, causing the engine can overheat.
How much does it cost to replace a serpentine belt on a BMW?
Typically, a serpentine belt replacement may cost around $100-$195. This includes both labor charges ($75-$120) and spare parts ($25-$75).
How do you remove a serpentine belt?
What does a worn serpentine belt sound like?
Squeals and Chirps: The Most Common Serpentine Belt Noises. There are two types of noise that a serpentine belt typically makes. One is the chirp, the other is the squeal. They each are the result of different issues within the front end drive system.
Can a bad tensioner cause loss of power?
Typically a damaged belt tensioner will not impact vehicle performance. It would cause the serpentine or drive belt to wear prematurely or to squeak – but not cause the acceleration issue.
How many years should a serpentine belt last?
The serpentine belt “snakes” around several components of the engine, transferring mechanical power to nearly every critical part. Under normal conditions, the belt needs to be replaced every 4 to 6 years.
Is a drive belt the same as a serpentine belt?
A serpentine belt is used for most makes and models because it’s known to last longer. And because it’s made of a more flexible material, you can remove it and have it replaced with a brand-new one. A drive belt is comprised of material that’s thicker and tougher than a serpentine belt.
What tool do I need to change serpentine belt?
- ratchet and socket set.
- torque wrench.
- new replacement belt.
- new tensioner.
- new pulley.
- wrench set.
- jack and axle stands or ramps.
Can a bad water pump cause serpentine belt to come off?
What causes pulley misalignment?
It occurs when the motor for a pulley is either too far back or too far forward, resulting in the incorrect positioning of the motor. It can be fixed relatively quickly by changing the position of the motor to align the pulley again.
How do you fix a noisy serpentine belt?
- Remove the Serpentine Belt.
- Clean the Pulleys and Serpentine Belt with Carburetor Cleaner.
- Clean the Grooved Pulleys with a Stiff-Bristled Brush.
- Clean the Smooth Pulleys with Steel Wool.
- Reinstall the Serpentine Belt.
How do I test my serpentine belt?
How do I know if my idler pulley is bad?
- Chattering, Squealing, or Chirping Sound.
- Corroded Surface.
- Excessively Loose Idler Pulley.
- A Bad Idler Pulley May Spin Excessively.
- Slow to No Spin or Binding.
Can I drive a short distance without a serpentine belt?
Only for a very short amount of time. Without the belt, neither the alternator nor the water pump will be driven. That means that the car battery will run down and the engine will overheat. Once either of those things happen, you’ll have to stop driving and be stuck wherever you ended up.
Does serpentine belt affect brakes?
The power steering and power brake pumps are driven by the serpentine belt in most vehicles. Those pumps make the pressure that assists your steering and braking. In many vehicles, the water pump is driven by the serpentine belt.
What causes a serpentine belt to rip?
Serpentine belt problems usually result from one of three causes: a defective belt tensioner; misalignment of a pulley; or, defective bearings in the tensioner, idler, or one of accessories driven by the belt (including the water pump).
Does the serpentine belt affect the battery?
The serpentine belt does affect the battery. The belt keeps the alternator spinning, and those rotations in turn power your: Steering system. Electrical system. Air conditioning.