What is the AC Belt all about? The AC belt connects the engine’s crankshaft to the air conditioner and without the AC belt, the air conditioner will not work. In some vehicles, the defrost function may be limited or even non-functioning if the AC belt is broken. The AC belt is not considered a major issue in that it won’t interfere with the vehicle’s ability to run; however, if the AC belt fails, the indoor temperatures may not be regulated properly. The AC belt is verified to be needing replacement The AC belt tensioner is loosened and the old belt is removed The new AC belt is installed The AC belt tensioner is adjusted to specifications The AC is checked for proper operation If you hear squealing when the air conditioner is turned on, or notice that the AC belt appears to be frayed, stretched, or worn, one of our expert mechanics can inspect the belt and replace it for you if necessary. An inspection will help eliminate causes of AC belt failure other than normal wear and tear.

Occasionally, a different broken part can interfere with the belt, causing failure. If the AC belt is broken, you’ll need to have it replaced if you want to have a working air conditioner. During the winter, the air conditioning unit helps to dehumidify the car during the defrost cycle, so repair may be essential during the winter months. What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the AC Belt? Noise, such as squealing when the air conditioner is turned on Visual inspection shows fraying, stretching, or weakening of the belt How important is this service? The vehicle’s air conditioner will not run without a properly functioning AC belt. While this isn’t a major issue, it can be rather uncomfortable in warmer climates. The issue becomes more important in the winter, if weather necessitates use of the defrost setting on the heater.What is the Serpentine/Drive Belt all about? The serpentine/drive belt or v-belt is a rubber belt that connects the alternator, power steering, and AC to the part of the engine (crankshaft) which transfers the power from the engine to those components.

Without this belt, the battery will not get charged and none of the electrical accessory components in the car will work. The serpentine belt and v-belt are also known as "drive belts." Because of the high amount of heat in the engine, the belt can develop cracks over time and eventually break. If the belt breaks, the steering wheel will be difficult to turn and driving will be hazardous. In some cars, water pumps are driven by the drive belts. If the belt breaks, water and coolant needed to keep the engine cool will not properly flow to the engine. The engine will overheat, potentially causing severe damage. A car will either have a serpentine belt(s) or v-belt(s). Cars that have a serpentine belt will have one or two belts. Most modern cars have only one belt, driving all the engine accessory components. If the car has v-belts, it will most likely have four belts. Inspect the belts for cracks. Remove and replace any damaged belts. Inspect pulleys and bearings.

A mechanic should inspect the drive belts during oil changes. If you hear a squealing noise from the engine, it is likely that the drive belts need adjustment or replacement.in wall ac heat units What common symptoms indicate you may need to replace the Serpentine/Drive Belt?low profile ac unit window Squealing noise coming from engine if the belt is loose or worn out.tiny ac unit Lack of steering if the belt is broken. Battery Warning Light is on. The drive belts connect the engine to the alternator, air conditioning, power steering, and sometimes the water pump. These belts are how power is transferred from the engines to these other systems. When the belts brake, the engine will be unable to transfer power to the alternator, air conditioning, and power steering.

Since the alternator is responsible for charging your battery, a broken drive belt means that the electrical components won’t work in your vehicle. The power steering also will fail, which makes it difficult and dangerous to steer. If your car’s water pump is also connected to the drive belt then the engine will not have a properly functioning cooling system, and your vehicle will be likely to overheat.Automatic belt tensioners, standard in most cars now, make changing a serpentine belt a simple DIY repair. Follow the clear photos and step-by-step instructions and you'll be done in 15 minutes. Automatic belt tensioners, standard in most cars now, make changing a serpentine belt a simple DIY repair. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine If you're old enough to remember the good old days when you changed your own fan belts, then you can also remember the bruised knuckles and cursing that went along with it. And to make matters worse, there were often two or three belts to change.

Now, instead of separate belts for each component, most cars today use a single wider, multigrooved “serpentine” belt, named for the way it snakes around multiple pulleys. Serpentine belts are easy to change because today's automatic 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. When the belt ribs are seated into the pulley grooves, release the tensioner and you're done. Check the tensioner first If your tensioner is bad and it’s one of the more difficult styles to replace, you won’t want to waste your timeThe shop would just have to remove the belt again to replace the tensioner. tensioner first with these three tests. The first test is a visual inspection with the engine running to assess the dampening feature of the tensioner. Pop the hood, start the engine and turn onThen shine a light on the belt tensioner and

observe the tensioner arm roller for excessive movementIf it passes the visual test, move on to the “crank” test (Photo 2). should rotate smoothly during crank and releaseIf the travel isn’t smooth, replaceNext, check the condition of the tensioner arm pulley/roller (Photo 3). If the pulley or roller exhibits any roughness, binding or noise, that is also cause to replace the entire tensioner. Many tensioners are readily accessible and attach to the engine with a single bolt. To replace that style, simply remove the belt and then the retaining bolt. Pull off the old tensioner, noting the location of the locking pin on the back. Then slide the new unit into place, lining up the locking pin with the hole in theHand-tighten the bolt and then tighten it with a torque wrench to the factory specifications shown in your shop manual. How to tell if you need a new serpentine belt First-generation serpentine belts were made from a nitrile compound that cracked

If your belt has cracks in three or more adjacent ribs within a 1-in. span, or has four or more cracks per inch on a single rib, it’s time to replace it. You also need a new belt if you notice any of these conditions: chunks missing from the rib area, torn or frayed fabric, glazing on the belt’s back side or debris trapped in the ribs. Starting with the 2000 models, carmakers switched from nitrile to ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) belts. EPDM belts last much longer and don’t crack or lose chunks the way nitrile belts do. But they do wear, and that wear is muchYou can measure EPDM belt wear with a gauge or a smartphone/beltwear and click on either tool). In most cases, you’ll want to use the plastic gauge to measure your belt, as shownHowever, if you have a smartphone and enough maneuvering room to shoot a close-up photo (engine off), let technology do the work for you. The app works by analyzing the width of the ribs compared with the width of the grooves.

Always buy premium belts instead of economy grade — you’ll get almost twice the mileage. The right tools make it a do-it-yourself project You can replace a serpentine belt with ordinary hand tools. But we don't recommend it. The spaces are often tight and the belt-driven devices difficult to reach. Using a serpentine belt tool to loosen the tensioner and a belt placement tool to position the belt, we completed the entire job in less than 15 minutes, without breaking a sweat (or a knuckle). The serpentine belt tool comes with an assortment of sockets, making it the perfect choice for all the cars in your family. The two extension bars can be configured to reach the tensioner at the proper angle, and the extra-long handle provides maximum leverage so you can release the pressure easily. The belt placement tool allowed us to remove and properly place the new belt without reaching down into the pulley area. Note: If your car requires the removal of an engine mount in order to remove the serpentine belt, or the belt's just nearly impossible to get at, we recommend you leave the job to a professional.