Diagnosis And Testing - Serpentine Belt: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 RAM 3500 HD and 2013 RAM 2500 HD. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT DIAGNOSIS CHART
| CONDITION | POSSIBLE CAUSES | CORRECTION |
|---|---|---|
| RIB CHUNKING (One or more ribs has separated from belt body) | 1. Foreign objects imbedded in pulley grooves. | 1. Remove foreign objects from pulley grooves. Replace belt. |
| 2. Installation damage. | 2. Replace belt. | |
| RIB OR BELT WEAR | 1. Pulley misaligned. | 1. Align pulley(s). |
| 2. Abrasive environment. | 2. Clean pulley(s). Replace belt if necessary. | |
| 3. Rusted pulley(s). | 3. Clean rust from pulley(s). | |
| 4. Sharp or jagged pulley groove tips. | 4. Replace pulley. Inspect belt. | |
| 5. Belt rubber deteriorated. | 5. Replace belt. | |
| BELT SLIPS | 1. Belt slipping because of insufficient tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary. |
| 2. Belt or pulley exposed to substance that has reduced friction (belt dressing, oil, ethylene glycol). | 2. Replace belt and clean pulleys. | |
| 3. Driven component bearing failure (seizure). | 3. Replace faulty component or bearing. | |
| 4. Belt glazed or hardened from heat and excessive slippage. | 4. Replace belt. | |
| LONGITUDAL BELT CRACKING | 1. Belt has mistracked from pulley groove. | 1. Replace belt. |
| 2. Pulley groove tip has worn away rubber to tensile member. | 2. Replace belt. | |
| "GROOVE JUMPING" (Belt does not maintain correct position on pulley) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary. Refer to TENSIONER, BELT . |
| 2. Pulley(s) not within design tolerance. | 2. Replace pulley(s). | |
| 3. Foreign object(s) in grooves. | 3. Remove foreign objects from grooves. | |
| 4. Pulley misalignment. | 4. Align component. | |
| 5. Belt cordline is broken. | 5. Replace belt. | |
| BELT BROKEN (Note: Identify and correct problem before new belt is installed) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary. Refer to TENSIONER, BELT . |
| 2. Tensile member damaged during belt installation. | 2. Replace belt. | |
| 3. Severe misalignment. | 3. Align pulley(s). | |
| 4. Bracket, pulley, or bearing failure. | 4. Replace defective component and belt. | |
| NOISE (Objectionable squeal, squeak, or rumble is heard or felt while drive belt is in operation) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary. Refer to TENSIONER, BELT . |
| 2. Bearing noise. | 2. Locate and repair. | |
| 3. Belt misalignment. | 3. Align belt/pulley(s). | |
| 4. Belt to pulley mismatch. | 4. Install correct belt. | |
| 5. Driven component induced vibration. | 5. Locate defective driven component and repair. | |
| 6. Generator Pulley | Check the clutch in the generator pulley is working correctly. Refer to TENSIONER, BELT . | |
| TENSION SHEETING FABRIC FAILURE (Woven fabric on outside, circumference of belt has cracked or separated from body of belt) |
1. Tension sheeting contacting stationary object. | 1. Correct rubbing condition. |
| 2. Excessive heat causing woven fabric to age. | 2. Replace belt | |
| 3. Tension sheeting splice has fractured. | 3. Replace belt. | |
| CORD EDGE FAILURE (Tensile member exposed at edges of belt or separated from belt body) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary. |
| 2. Belt contacting stationary object. | 2. Replace belt. | |
| 3. Pulley(s) out of tolerance. | 3. Replace pulley. | |
| 4. Insufficient adhesion between tensile member and rubber matrix. | 4. Replace belt. |