The serpentine belt is a single, continuous belt that is driven by the engine as it turns. It drives multiple peripheral devices including, the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioner and others. Without the serpentine belt, there is no way to drive power to any of these devices.

Replace It Before It Breaks

When a serpentine belt breaks, all drive power to whatever it turns is lost. The alternator quits producing power and your battery would die in a few miles. The water pump stops circulating coolant through the engine and it could overheat. The power steering pump ceases to assist steering. The air conditioner quits cooling.

Continued driving without power to your water pump will result in engine overheating and failure, requiring costly repairs and even engine replacement. 

Ignoring serpentine belt replacement has a high safety impact, as you will most likely be stranded with no warning when the belt breaks, and if your power steering fails you could lose control of your vehicle. There is no environmental impact to ignoring serpentine belt replacement.

Recommendations

You may have been told by a service adviser to look for cracks in your belt to see if it needs to be replaced. Of course, cracks are still a concern, but modern belt material doesn't crack as often as old belts did. What we look for these days is the thickness of the belt. 

HEIYI's Automotive technicians can measure the depth of the grooves in the belt to see if it needs replacing. A worn belt can slip or be misaligned, putting undue stress on the accessories it runs.

Check your owner's manual for when it's recommended that you replace your serpentine belt. Most manufacturers recommend replacement every four years or 50,000 miles as preventative maintenance.

It's also important for the belt to be tight. Thats why there's a tensioner pulley on your engine that puts pressure on the belt to keep it at the right tension. 

The spring on the tensioner wears out over time so we recommend replacing the tensioner pulley at the same time as the serpentine belt.

Replacing your serpentine belt on schedule, or when an inspection warrants it, will keep you from an unexpected breakdown!