What Is A Serpentine Belt And Why Is It Important?
The serpentine belt drives several essential parts of your vehicle and runs off the engine's crankshaft pulley. On most cars it powers the following systems:
- Alternator/battery charging system
- Air conditioning compressor
- Power steering
- Water pump
In this post, we'll cover the serpentine belt, where it's located, and why it's important.
Where Is The Serpentine Belt Located And What Does It Look Like?
The serpentine belt is located on the front or side of the engine and winds through a series of pulleys. It is a long belt made out of highly reinforced rubber designed to withstand high temperatures and heavy use. Intended to last between 30,000 and 100,000 miles it is constantly in motion when the engine is running.
What Does A Serpentine Belt Do?
The serpentine belt powers different engine accessories. It uses a pulley attached to the engine's crankshaft to turn a series of pulleys that power other systems on your car including the alternator, a/c compressor, power steering, and water pump. The serpentine belt is stretched tight across the pulleys allowing them to turn effectively and power each part. Most vehicles use one or more tensioner pulleys to keep the serpentine belt tight. The tensioner pulley keeps the belt tight even as it stretches a little while it ages.
How Long Does A Serpentine Belt Last?
OEM Nissan serpentine belts should last between 30,000 and 100,000 miles. Sometimes it will fail sooner due to one of the following issues:
- Lack of proper adjustment
- Damaged or misaligned pulleys
- Damaged or worn-out engine accessories
When a serpentine belt starts to wear out you may hear the belt squealing along with one or more of the following symptoms:
- A battery that's not fully charged
- The a/c doesn't get as cold or stops working
- The engine overheats or runs hotter than normal
- Heavier feeling power steering
If your car has a worn serpentine belt it's important to replace it as soon as possible. A broken belt will cause other issues with your vehicle and it will stop running. In addition to the serpentine belt, it's important to check your car's hoses. Both the serpentine belt and hoses last for about the same length of time so it's a good idea to replace these parts together.
You can save a lot of money on replacement belts and hoses by shopping with us. At NissanPartsPlus.com, we sell genuine OEM replacement belts and hoses for most Nissan models at wholesale prices. If you have questions or need help ordering parts, please contact us. We'll help you find the right part and answer any questions you have.