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.
Can you run a vehicle without a serpentine belt?
The short answer is yes, your car will start even if the serpentine belt is broken or missing. To get the car going, the battery sends power to your starter motor. The starter motor provides enough power to get your engine moving and the combustion process started.
What happens if your serpentine belt comes off while driving?
When the serpentine belt completely fails and breaks off from the engine block, your car will break down. You may also notice a loss of power steering or air conditioning that stops working.
How much does it cost to fix a serpentine belt?
The cost of the serpentine belt itself could be around $50 and the cost of labor could be around $150. As a result, a serpentine belt cost for replacement could range from $70 to $200 depending on your exact model and where you get it replaced.
How long can a car run without a serpentine belt? – Related Questions
Why would serpentine belt fall off?
Belt coming off: Pulley misalignment, belt misalignment on pulley, defective tensioner, or bearing wear in tensioner, idler or driven accessories.
Does the alternator belt affect power steering?
All these things are controlled by a properly functioning serpentine or V-belt. Once your belt is compromised, it can produce further damage to the vital systems—such as the alternator, water pump, power steering and air conditioning—that depend on it.
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.
What happens if my alternator belt snaps?
Battery light on the dash – When the drive belt breaks, your cars alternator will stop charging your cars battery, which will cause a battery light to come on the dash and possibly the Check Engine Light (in late model vehicles)
How long can you drive with a squeaky serpentine 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.
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.
Will AAA replace a serpentine belt?
For a little extra peace of mind, consider signing up for AAA Roadside Assistance. If you should find yourself on the roadside with a failed serpentine belt, flat tire or other vehicle emergency, our skilled problem solvers are available 24/7 to provide help at your location.
Can I change a 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.
How many years do serpentine belts 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.
Why is it called a serpentine belt?
The serpentine belt is long, thin and intertwining. It curves around like a snake, hence the term “serpentine.” A drive belt is similar to the serpentine belt in that it performs those same functions.
How long does it take to install a serpentine belt?
It can take anything from 15 minutes to an hour (two at the most) to repair or replace a bad serpentine belt with a new belt.
Is the alternator belt the same as a serpentine belt?
Sometimes called a fan belt, alternator belt, or accessory drive belt, the serpentine belt is spun by the engine crankshaft and, in turn, spins, or “drives”, the accessories. Cars of the past relied on multiple drive belts, but today’s vehicles (usually) count on just one, the serpentine belt.
Is a serpentine belt the same as a driving belt?
The serpentine belt goes by a couple of different names: accessory belt and drive belt. The belt is long and snakes through several pulleys. That’s why it’s called a serpentine belt. You can find the serpentine belt on the front or side the engine.
What damage can a broken serpentine belt cause?
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.
What are the 3 belts in a car?
Car Basics: All the Drive Belts Explained
- Timing Belts. A timing belt, is a notched rubber belt that opens and closes the engine valves in proper timing with the pistons.
- Serpentine Belts. Your car’s serpentine belt is a long continuous belt that drives all your engine components.
- V-Belts.
How many serpentine belts are in a car?
The serpentine belt uses pulleys and a belt tensioner to transfer power from the engine crankshaft to all the other components, says TheDrive.com. There is only one serpentine belt on most modern cars, and it is constantly moving whenever your car is running.