Serpentine Belt: Notes
WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.
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 the foreign objects from pulley grooves. Replace the belt. |
| 2. Installation damage. | 2. Replace the belt. | |
| RIB OR BELT WEAR | 1. Pulley misaligned. | 1. Align the pulley(s). |
| 2. Abrasive environment. | 2. Clean the pulley(s). Replace the belt if necessary. | |
| 3. Rusted pulley(s). | 3. Clean rust from the pulley(s). | |
| 4. Sharp or jagged pulley groove tips. | 4. Replace the pulley. Inspect the belt. | |
| 5. Belt rubber deteriorated. | 5. Replace the 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, engine coolant). | 2. Replace the belt and clean the pulleys. Repair source of engine coolant leak. | |
| 3. Driven component bearing failure (seizure). | 3. Replace the faulty component or bearing. | |
| 4. Belt glazed or hardened from heat and excessive slippage. | 4. Replace the belt. | |
| LONGITUDINAL BELT CRACKING | 1. Belt has mis-tracked from pulley groove. | 1. Replace the belt. |
| 2. Pulley groove tip has worn away rubber to tensile member. | 2. Replace the belt. | |
| "GROOVE JUMPING" (Belt does not maintain correct position on pulley) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary (See Automatic Belt Tensioner Diagnosis). |
| 2. Pulley(s) not within design tolerance. | 2. Replace the pulley(s). | |
| 3. Foreign object(s) in grooves. | 3. Remove foreign objects from grooves. | |
| 4. Pulley misalignment. | 4. Align the component. | |
| 5. Belt cordline is broken. | 5. Replace the belt. | |
| BELT BROKEN (Note: Identify and correct problem before new belt is installed) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace tensioner if necessary (See Automatic Belt Tensioner Diagnosis). |
| 2. Tensile member damaged during belt installation. | 2. Replace the belt. | |
| 3. Severe misalignment. | 3. Align the pulley(s). | |
| 4. Bracket, pulley, or bearing failure. | 4. Replace the 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 (See Automatic Belt Tensioner Diagnosis). |
| 2. Bearing noise. | 2. Locate and repair. | |
| 3. Belt misalignment. | 3. Align belt/pulley(s). | |
| 4. Belt to pulley mismatch. | 4. Install the correct belt. | |
| 5. Driven component induced vibration. | 5. Locate defective driven component and repair. | |
| 6. Generator pulley. | 6. Check the clutch in the generator pulley is working correctly (See Automatic Belt Tensioner Diagnosis). | |
| 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 the rubbing condition. |
| 2. Excessive heat causing woven fabric to age. | 2. Replace the belt. | |
| 3. Tension sheeting splice has fractured. | 3. Replace the belt. | |
| CORD EDGE FAILURE (Tensile member exposed at edges of belt or separated from belt body) |
1. Incorrect belt tension. | 1. Inspect/Replace the tensioner if necessary. |
| 2. Belt contacting stationary object. | 2. Replace the belt. | |
| 3. Pulley(s) out of tolerance. | 3. Replace the pulley. | |
| 4. Insufficient adhesion between tensile member and rubber matrix. | 4. Replace the belt. |