How much play should be in a serpentine belt?
Check the tension of the belt periodically. To do this, grab any area of the belt that is between two pulleys with your fingers. There should be approximately 1/4 inch play in the belt for most vehicles.
How much slack should a serpentine belt have?
The required measure of tension in the serpentine belt is that it should not deflect more than ½ inch when twisted either way from the middle. If twisted more, the belt is loose, and if twisted less, the belt is too tight.
How much deflection should a belt have?
Force-Deflection Method Measure the span length P. 2. At center of the span length apply a force F (using a belt tension gauge) perpendicular to the belt span, large enough to deflect the belt 1/64” for each 1“ of belt span, q. So, for a 32” span, the deflection amount would be 32/64” or 1/2”.
How do you release a tensioner?
If equipped with a tensioner screw, back off the tensioner screw. Then, push the alternator toward the other pulleys, loosening the belt. To loosen an NAI tensioner, loosen the locking nut or bolt, then back off the tensioner screw. Push the pulley toward the other pulleys or accessories, loosening the belt.
How tight should the tensioner?
A general rule of thumb for the correct tightness is being able to twist a belt with a thumb and finger a 1/2 turn and feel resistance. If you can turn it more than a 1/2 turn, you do not have enough tension on the belt. If you cannot turn it a 1/2 turn, you have too much tension on the belt.
How do you measure belt tension?
Belt tension is measured by plucking the belt span while holding a sensor close by. Belt tension is adjusted until the belt span frequency, or measured tension level is within manufacturer’s recommendations.
How is V belt deflection calculated?
Calculate the deflection distance by: t/64 = deflection. Note from Figure 26 that the deflection distance is always 1/64″ per inch of span length (for example, a 32″ span length would require a deflection of 32/64 or 1/2 inch).
When to replace a serpentine belt tensioner?
Repair Topics > Belts Serpentine & Timing > When to replace serpentine… Let’s get this straight from the get-go, a serpentine belt tensioner doesn’t last the life of the vehicle. In fact, most start to show serious wear right around the 100K mile mark. You may think a worn tensioner just means your belt loses tension; you’d be wrong.
How do you remove a serpentine belt from a car?
Disconnect the negative battery cable with a ratchet and socket, and locate the serpentine belt system near the front of the engine. Some automobiles will have the belt system on one side of the engine, and will therefore require removal of one of the front tires.
How does a drive belt tensioner work?
In order to keep the proper tension on your vehicle’s serpentine belt, a drive belt tensioner is used. This is a pulley that is either mounted to an adjustable pivot point or a spring mechanism. If you open up the hood of your car, you’ll see that the serpentine belt is on the front of your engine.
Where do I find the serpentine belt routing diagram?
Find the serpentine belt routing diagram. Many cars come with a sticker in the engine bay that shows exactly how the serpentine belt is supposed to be routed through the various pulleys on the engine. If your vehicle does not have a sticker, you will need to find another way to remember how the belt should be run.