The fan belt performs and manages most of the devices in the vehicle, so its failure could result in a significant concern. Thus, it may cause your car almost to break down. In addition, it may result in loss of power of the steering wheel, the air conditioning may fail, and the engine no longer continues to cool as it must be.
Full Answer
What happens if the fan belt falls off?
If your fan belt has inconsistently done it's job for a while, it could cause the battery to slowly drain from not receiving enough energy. Likewise, if your fan belt or serpentine belt breaks or falls off, that would prevent your car from starting even if you were able to drive home after losing the belt.
Can a bad fan belt damage a car battery?
Yes! If your fan belt has inconsistently done it's job for a while, it could cause the battery to slowly drain from not receiving enough energy. Likewise, if your fan belt or serpentine belt breaks or falls off, that would prevent your car from starting even if you were able to drive home after losing the belt.
What happens if the belt tension is too loose?
If the tension is loose, the belt will make a high pitch noise. If you visually look at the belt as the engine is running, there will be a lot of movement with the belt. Depending on the component the belt is rotating, it will have a low output effect.
Can a cooling fan affect the tension of a belt?
A cooling fan can also be belt driven; this moves air across a radiator to cool the engine coolant to prevent overheating of the engine at slow road speeds or idle. These belt driven components can affect the tension of a belt. The v-belt type has a narrow taper to a V shape that goes around a pulley.
What happens if the fan belt gets loose?
If your serpentine belt wears out, becomes damaged or contaminated, or breaks, engine accessories will not be able to spin at the proper speed, leading to decreased power to the electrical system.
Can you drive a car with a loose fan belt?
You will not be able to use fans, headlights, or other systems that use an excessive amount of electricity. Your power steering will not work at all, making it very difficult to turn the wheel. Basically, you should be able to drive it to a safe space where it can be towed or repaired.
Can a loose fan belt cause overheating?
3. Engine overheating. Since the serpentine belt helps provide power to cool the engine, a failing belt can cause your engine to overheat as the water pump will not turn.
What happens if you don't fix a fan belt?
You'll lose power steering, the A/C will quit, your battery will eventually die, and the engine might overheat. Plus, it could also damage the engine accessories it controls. This is why it is so important to get your serpentine belt replaced on a regular schedule.
How long can I drive with a loose belt?
There are a couple of factors influencing the answer to this question, but on average, your car should be able to run between 20-90 minutes with a broken serpentine belt. The engine will overheat faster without a functioning cooling system on a hot day, so your driving window is less.
What does a loose fan belt sound like?
The sound of a squeaky belt in your vehicle's engine is usually because the rubber belt is slipping on the metal pulley. Similar to when your tires squeal on the pavement, this slip causes a dreadful noise.
How do you know if your belt is loose?
A loose drive belt will often be noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose.
How much does it cost to replace a fan belt?
A typical serpentine belt generally starts at around $15 and goes up to $80 at most. Add to that the labor costs that can range from $75 and $120. Altogether, you're looking at around $90 to $200 (plus taxes and fees) to replace your serpentine belt.
How do you know if your fan belt is going?
6 Signs It's Time to Change Your Fan BeltFan Belt Squeaking. The fan belt will squeak when you start your engine when it is time to replace it. ... Flickering Lights. ... Steering Becomes Difficult. ... Car Refuses to Start. ... Engine Gets Overheated. ... Cracks in the Belt. ... Car Fan Belt Replacement.
Will a broken fan belt destroy my engine?
Since the serpentine belt helps provide power to cool the engine, a faulty belt can cause the car engine to overheat as the water pump will not turn. As soon as the engine begins to overheat, have it inspected by a mechanic as it can cause a breakdown and cause engine damage if left overheated.
How long can you drive with a squeaky belt?
That's why it's recommended that the serpentine belt is replaced early when the squealing symptoms are first noticed. Although it may be safe to drive with the squealing for a few days or weeks, the belt will eventually need to be replaced, and for safety, the earlier it's repaired, the better.
Can I replace a fan 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.
Can a bad pulley cause overheating?
Even more noticeable is a cracked or damaged pulley or bearing. This damage interferes with the rotation of the belt causing torn belts, or the belt falling off of the engine. Without a belt, stalling and overheating of the engine become commonplace.
What happens to a car when the serpentine belt breaks?
A broken serpentine belt causes the water pump to stop circulating coolant through the engine's cooling system, causing it to overheat. This can happen at any time, if the belt decides to go out on you.
What do you need to change a serpentine belt?
There are only a few things you'll need to replace a serpentine belt: a new belt, a belt tensioner tool and maybe a socket wrench. These things should be easy to find at an auto parts store. Gloves and eye protection never hurt either. Every car engine is different, even engines from the same auto manufacturer.
What happens if the fan belt is not attached to the engine?
After a while, if the belt lets the water pump slide enough times, the engine will overheat. Your serpentine belt is impersonating a snake in the grass. If you find your fan belt is no longer attached to your engine, or is lying on the ground somewhere, that is definitely a sign that it's time to replace your fan belt!
How Can I Tell If My Fan Belt Is Bad?
If steering has become a little more challenging than it used to be, it might be a sign that your fan belt is on its way out. As the fan belt continues to lose its grip and slip, it makes power steering increasingly difficult, as your car misses the help of the water pump, which also has responsibility for driving the power steering belt.
What is the difference between a fan belt and a serpentine belt?
The only true difference between a serpentine belt and a fan belt is that a serpentine belt is designed to manage ALL of your accessories using only one belt that loops and winds around the front of your engine like a long black snake. The video below explains the difference between a fan belt and a serpentine belt.
Why does my alternator belt not start?
As your serpentine belt wears down, it has trouble turning the alternator belt consistently, which can lead to no-start problems. Sometimes it gets so bad that it kills your battery, or causes the car to intermittently fail to start, even when the battery is charged up. Your vehicle spikes a fever.
How long do tensioner pulleys last?
This situation doesn't happen often, though, as most tensioner pulleys are designed to last over 200,000 miles. pinterest-pin-it. That means it's time to dig out your tools!
Why does my fan belt fray?
As this happens, the sides of the belt can become more vulnerable or can sometimes start rubbing against other belts or parts of the engine block, which then causes the outer edges of the belt to fray. The more fraying you have ...
What belts run coolant fan?
It is very common to find classic cars that had a three-belt setup including one belt to run the coolant fan. Serpentine Belt: Just like the old "V Belts," the serpentine belt is designed to drive all the accessories in your vehicle.
What should I do if my fan belt is loose?
If you can get them to stay on, try tightening them by moving the tensioner bolt until they feel snug. This will get your fan belt back in working order.
What does it mean when my fan belt is frozen?
If you have a frozen fan belt, then there is a chance that your vehicle may not turn on or start at all until it is defrosted. If this happens to you, then you will need to have the engine repaired as soon as possible to avoid anything else from going wrong with your car.
What can I spray on squeaky fan belt?
You can spray a little WD-40 on the belt to help stop the squeak. You can also add a little grease or add that grease with a toothpick.
Why should I fan belt spray my hoses?
Spraying hoses with a hose can help prevent them from cracking or drying out. You can also use a hose to clean out any dirt or mud buildup in your car, especially around the windshield wipers and mirrors. If you want to avoid having to clean your hoses, then make sure that you change them at regular intervals. They should be replaced every three to five years.
What is the best fan belt spray?
There are several brands of fan belt sprays available on the market today, but only one that has been shown to actually help stop squeaking without causing any damage. The “Squeak No More” brand of spray was created by a carpenter who needed it for his own car, and after he found out how well it worked he patented it and has been selling it ever since. To find out more about the “Squeak No More” brand of spray, visit the company’s website at www.sno-more.com.
How should I spray my fan belt?
Spraying your fan belt is best done while it’s still warm, to prevent the motor oil from seeping into the belt and damaging it. After spraying, make sure to wipe off any excess oil before re-attaching the belt.
Can I spray WD40 on my fan belt?
You can spray WD40 on your fan belt, but it is not recommended. While this may seem like a good idea, you will most likely damage the belt over time. Instead, use a high-quality oil spray designed to lubricate your fan belts and reduce heat loss.
Why does my belt make a chirping noise?
The chirping sound can be caused by the belt itself or by the tensioner or pulleys having too much play . The presence of grit or improper lubrication can also cause chirping sounds in the sprockets as they spin. Similarly, rattling or banging sounds can come from a loose or faulty tensioner or sprocket.
Why does my timing belt rattle?
A loose timing belt or one with teeth that are wearing out or missing altogether may rattle, grind, or squeak as it spins because it doesn’t have a firm grip on the pulleys it’s wrapped around. The teeth may slip and recatch, causing noises.
How Often Should Timing Belts Be Replaced?
Most manufacturers recommend that you replace your timing belt every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Your vehicle owner’s manual should give you the exact number recommended for your specific model.
What is the difference between alternator belt and timing belt?
The main distinction between the alternator belt and the timing belt is that the timing belt is located inside the engine, while the alternator belt is connected to the outside of the engine and your vehicle’s battery. The alternator belt should be visible as soon as you pop your hood, but the timing belt takes a lot more effort to uncover.
Why does my engine light turn on when I turn on the timing belt?
A loose timing belt can often cause the check engine light to turn on and throw a valve timing code. If your engine light is on, the easiest way to figure out what’s wrong with your vehicle is by breaking out an OBD2 code reader to see what the car’s computer is trying to tell you. This inexpensive OBDII reader has a built-in display and works like a charm, making it an easy recommendation.
How much does a timing belt cost?
Timing belts and their components are fairly cheap with the belt itself costing roughly $20-$50. However, the timing belt is an internal component of your engine that can not be accessed without first digging into the mess of hoses, wires, and various covers found in modern engine bays. With that said, the process of gaining access to your vehicle’s timing belt could easily take over an hour by an experienced professional with all the proper tools on hand.
What is a timing belt?
The timing belt itself tends to be a circle of rubber with regularly spaced teeth on the inner side of the belt. Sometimes timing chains made out of metal are used instead of rubber belts, but these are more expensive and less common. Either way, the timing belt system employs an array of sprockets, pulleys, and tensioner (s) regardless of the type of belt it uses.
What happens if you drive too far with a loose alternator belt?
Sudden Stall. If you have been driving very far with a loose or slipping alternator belt, it can actually become so bad that the electronic components will draw more power than the alternator can produce.
How to tell if alternator belt is loose?
The most common symptom of a loose alternator belt is a battery warning light on your dashboard. You can also often hear a squeaking belt when the engine is cold. If your headlights are flickering or the steering is heavy it can also be caused by a loose belt.
Why does my alternator light pop up?
When the alternator belt is loose, the alternator will not spin at its optimal speed, and this can cause the charging voltage to drop, and therefore the warning light will pop up.
Why does my alternator light up when the belt is loose?
As the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator, it will, of course, cause the alternator to struggle when the belt is loose. There is a battery warning light on your dashboard in most car models, which will light up when there is a problem with the charging system.
What is the belt on the alternator?
As I talked about before, the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator and other things like the power steering pump. Some car models have a separate belt for the alternator and the power steering pump but mostly use the same.
What is a serpentine belt?
3. Heavy or Jiggery Steering. As I talked about before, the alternator or serpentine belt is powering the alternator and other things like the power steering pump. Some car models have a separate belt for the alternator and the power steering pump but mostly use the same. This means that when the alternator belt can also cause ...
How to find alternator belt?
Finding the alternator belt is quite easy in most car models though, look for a belt going around different wheels, and you will most likely find it.
What happens when a belt is loose?
If the tension is loose, the belt will make a high pitch noise. If you visually look at the belt as the engine is running, there will be a lot of movement with the belt. Depending on the component the belt is rotating, it will have a low output effect.
How to tell if drive belt is loose?
Let’s summarize the signs of your drive belt being loose: 1 Sound is an indication of a belt being loose. This noise could manifest as a high pitch or whirring noise. The level of looseness will create different sounds. 2 Movement of the belt up and down while operating is normal at ½” to ¾”. More than that is considered worn or a concern 3 Low output from the component the belt is operating could be an indication of a loose belt
How to tell if a belt tensioner is loose?
Automatic belt tensioners operate in a range, they use a calibrated spring to create this tension on the belt, that spring can fail causing a loose belt. Let’s summarize the signs of your drive belt being loose: Sound is an indication of a belt being loose. This noise could manifest as a high pitch or whirring noise.
Why does power steering have a slipping belt?
It will create higher steering effort in the power steering because the power steering pump pulley will have a slipping condition. You will lose frictional contact between pulley and belt, and the pump cannot produce enough pressure. The coolant pump could cause an engine overheating condition.
What does a loose belt mean?
A loose belt, simply stated, looks and feels loose. If this appears to be the case, you should have a mechanic adjust the belt tension so that it doesn’t come off and damage your engine or leave you stranded. There are two types of drive belts used in automotive vehicles. They are the v-belt and serpentine belt.
What happens if serpentine belt breaks?
If your serpentine drive belt broke or is damaged then you will need to find out if one or of your accessories are seized or damaged. If engine does not turn over then you may have a dead battery from...
What is a drive belt?
There are two types of drive belts used in automotive vehicles. They are the v-belt and serpentine belt. Belts are used to rotate components on the engine assembly, such as a coolant pump (water pump). This pump flows coolant through the engine to remove heat.
Why does my belt stop working?
This means that the alternator will no longer be switched on and supply equal and opposite energy to the battery. The battery, as a result, will malfunction.
How do I know if my Belt Tensioner has gone bad?
Now that you’ve realized how crucial the role of the belt tensioner is, how do you go about determining if it has indeed gone bad or if you’re facing a completely different issue on your hands?
Why won't my AC switch on?
Naturally, as the belt tensioner stops working, so does the accessory belt and all the accessory pulleys that are located on it. As a result, the AC will not switch on. This is one of the first signs.
What happens when belt tensioner starts messing with belt?
Once the belt tensioner starts messing with the belt, there will likely be a loud clanking noise as the accessory pulleys crash with each other! There can be a lot of heat that is generated from this encounter, as well as serious damage is done to all of the parts involved.
Why does my belt tensioner make a growling noise?
It’s almost as if the belt tensioner is upset and letting you know that you need to change it! Usually, the noise is being produced because of the loose bearing inside the tensioner. When this bearing starts getting loose and moving about, the growling noise is produced.
How to tell if belt tensioner isn't working?
1. Serpentine Belt Slipping When You Start the Car.
What is a serpentine belt tensioner?
What’s a belt tensioner? Called the serpentine, or ‘snakes’ as a nickname, the belt tensioner has a really important role to play in ensuring your car functions properly. Of course, you probably know that the manufacturers didn’t add it in for kicks!
