When the mileage on a vehicle reaches between 50,000 and 100,000 miles, the chances of its serpentine belt, which sends power to multiple engine accessories, such as the alternator, power steering and water pump, and A/C compressor, failing goes up considerably. And so, too, does one's chances of being left stranded on the side of the road.
Signs That Might Suggest Your Serpentine Belt Is Failing
Unlike other vehicle components, serpentine belts don't usually stop working right away. They gradually become less and less efficient, and eventually, it gets to the point where they start to throw off a few subtle and not-so-subtle signs to let drivers know something is wrong. Some of these signs include the following:
- Squealing sounds – One of the first signs of a failing serpentine belt is a high-pitched squealing sound that emanates from under the hood. Sometimes, this sound indicates the belt is misaligned or is somehow slipping. It could also suggest it is very worn out and needs replacing.
- No air conditioning – The air conditioner in a vehicle will almost always stop working when the serpentine belt fails. And this is because the serpentine belt works with the idlers, tensioners, and pulleys that power the AC compressor.
- Engine overheating – Most vehicles will overheat when the serpentine belt fails. Like air conditioning, the serpentine belt works with the idlers, tensioners, and pulleys that power the water pump. The power steering in most vehicles will stop working for the same reason.
- Check engine light – Last, but one of the most overlooked, signs of a failing serpentine belt is an illuminated check engine light on your dashboard.
Multiple things can suggest that a serpentine belt failure is imminent, and having them looked at by a licensed mechanic can help you avoid finding yourself stranded on the side of the road. We invite you to Pete's Auto Service today!