In this article, we will look at how to change serpentine belt 6.7 Cummins on your vehicle.
As you know, vehicles have various accessories. These accessories contribute greatly towards the optimum functionality of combustion engines.
While accessories such as air conditioning compressor, power steering, water pump, and alternator are designed to perform some important functions.
They wouldn’t have been able to operate or work effectively without the aid of a serpentine belt.
In a simpler phrase, the serpentine belt is a major force behind the full functionality of your vehicle’s engine accessories.
Contents
What is a Serpentine Belt?
Another name for a serpentine belt is an accessory belt. It is an important engine component—the core engine belt widely visible upon the opening of your vehicle’s hood.
This belt can be easily noticed or identified, thanks to its unique ridges.
The main function of the ridges is to ensure grip is sustained whenever the accessory pulley is rotating or turning.
A serpentine belt serves as the powerhouse for engine accessories. Contrary to popular opinion, the engine accessories don’t get the power required from the battery, as most people may have thought or believed.
Whenever your vehicle’s engine is in operation, the serpentine belt ensures the spinning motion that originates or is generated from the crankshafts is transferred to the accessory pulleys one after the other.
This is simply how engine accessories get the power they require to function.
In addition, if you drive a supercharged vehicle, the serpentine belt is responsible for powering the supercharger.
What is the difference between V-belt and a Serpentine belt?
The v-belt can be found in older engines. The serpentine belt is a product of innovation. So, instead of the v-belt, newer engines now have the serpentine belt.
While the newer engines have just a single serpentine belt, there are several v-belts in older engines—one v-belt for every engine accessory. It works by connecting each accessory to the crankshaft.
In terms of size, the v-belts are not just smaller than the serpentine belt; they are also thinner.
Signs of a faulty or damaged serpentine belt
Just like we have always advised, an issue with any part or component of your vehicle should not be left untreated for a very long time.
Immediately an issue is detected, ensure you take the necessary action to get it fixed.
When the serpentine belt goes bad or becomes faulty, don’t assume it is an issue that you can always come back to later.
Ensure you deal with it as fast as possible. A damaged serpentine belt can compromise or affect your vehicle’s overall functionality.
So, what are the things to look out for—signs and symptoms that give a clear indication whenever the serpentine belt is going bad?
The following are common signs of a damaged or cracked serpentine belt.
Faulty air conditioning system
A faulty air conditioning system may result from several issues; a damaged serpentine belt is one of them.
Since the serpentine belt has to ensure the air conditioning system works at full capacity, the functionality and performance of the air conditioner are affected once it gets damaged.
Solution
So, when you put on your air conditioning system and realize or perceive that the functionality is negatively impacted—the air that comes out from the vents is hot or warm. You may want to get your serpentine belt checked for possible damage.
Cracking belt
If you notice any cracks on your serpentine belt, it is time to consider a replacement. The serpentine belt is easily accessible in a lot of vehicles. To check if your belt is damaged or needs to be replaced, you can do this by opening your vehicle’s hood and check the belt accordingly.
Solution
If you can easily notice some cracks or any other signs that show the belt is due for a replacement, ensure you do the needful as soon as possible.
Squealing/annoying sounds
Suppose you experience squealing/disturbing sounds at the front part of your vehicle. In that case, you may need to check your serpentine belt for possible misalignment or slippage.
Solution
In most cases, you may not need to replace the serpentine belt. You may only need to realign it to fix this issue.
If you notice that the belt is damaged, make sure you consider a replacement as soon as possible.
Overheating
If you have ever wondered about how the water pump in the engine system functions, the answer is the serpentine belt. It activates this component, thereby ensuring the engine gets the necessary fluid it needs to cool.
Once the serpentine belt gets worn out or gets damaged, it becomes impossible to activate the water pump. If the engine doesn’t get the water it needs to cool, overheating occurs.
Solution
Immediately you realize that the engine’s temperature is on the rise, which is easily detectible by looking at the temperature gauge on your vehicle’s dashboard. Make sure you check the serpentine belt to see if it is in good condition.
A whimpering sound from the engine
Suppose you start experiencing a whimpering sound, which may be traced back to your vehicle’s engine. In that case, you may need to get the serpentine belt’s tensioner checked. You may also notice that this sound changes depending on the engine’s speed.
When the belt is installed or positioned extremely tight, this places an excessive load on the bearings in the respective accessory pulley. If correction isn’t made as soon as possible, these components may fail prematurely.
For instance, one of the most popular factors responsible for water pump failure is bad or faulty bearing—this is due to a very tight serpentine belt.
Solution
Once you experience a whimpering sound coming from your vehicle’s engine, check your serpentine belt to ensure everything is alright.
Also, if you believe your belt might have been installed tightly, you may want to check now and fix this issue as soon as possible.
You don’t have to wait for issues to occur or wait for signs and symptoms of possible damage before checking your belt’s condition.
Regular maintenance check is advised to prevent the engine from getting damaged, which may be too expensive to fix.
The steering wheel becomes difficult to control
When the serpentine belt goes bad, it may affect the steering system’s functionality. It is important to state that the serpentine belt is responsible for the optimum functionality of the power steering system.
Once the power steering’s functionality is impacted due to a damaged serpentine belt, it becomes difficult to steer your vehicle smoothly. At this point, you may begin to stress your arm due to the need to apply much strength trying to steer the wheel.
Solution
Check and confirm the true condition or state of the serpentine belt. If it is damaged, make sure you get it replaced as soon as possible to avoid using too much strength to move the steering wheel.
In a situation where there is nothing wrong with the serpentine belt, you may need to check the power steering fluid to ensure it is not running low. Confirm if the fluid level is still within the recommended level.
The battery may lose power
Suppose your vehicle loses power unexpectedly while driving. In that case, you may want to confirm if your belt is still in good condition—either check for misalignment, slippage, or possible damage.
If the serpentine belt is damaged, even if you are lucky enough to start the vehicle, the excitement won’t last for a long time.
A damaged or cracked belt means the alternator won’t function optimally, thereby preventing it from charging the vehicle’s battery.
There is a massive demand for power from several vehicle accessories such as the headlight, AC, and even the radio. In that case, there is no way the battery can keep the engine running for a long time when the alternator isn’t working.
Solution
Check the serpentine belt for damage, misalignment, and firmness. If the belt is not well-aligned, you can easily fix this issue by ensuring it is properly placed or positioned. A loose or damaged belt needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
When the belt is loose, it is impossible to sustain grip on the alternator pulley.
How To Change Serpentine Belt 6.7 Cummins
The following are steps you need to follow to change your serpentine belt yourself whenever a replacement is needed or expected.
First, you need to need to understand that the replacement procedures are easy to follow.
- Get a new serpentine belt
- Remove the damaged belt by simply rotating the tensioner or by removing the bolt. In some vehicles, the tensioner is used in place of a bolt.
- Install the new serpentine belt
- Ensure the belt is properly aligned and it is not too tight
Tools
Replacing a faulty serpentine belt doesn’t require the use of any special tools. This task can be performed at the comfort of your home using simple tools like:
Wrench
- To loosen the bolt
- To slack the belt, thereby making it easy to remove and install a new one.
Cost
The cost of serpentine belt replacement is pocket-friendly. On average, it costs about $75 to replace a damaged or loose belt. This cost is exclusive to the labor cost.
Time
Usually, the replacement of the serpentine belt is not time-consuming. The only issue you may encounter is accessibility.
While the serpentine belt is placed where anyone can easily access it in some vehicle models, it could be in a really complicated area in other models.
If the belt is easy to access, the installation could take between 5 and 10 minutes. For the very complicated area, the installation time could take as long as 2 hours.
FAQs of How To Change Serpentine Belt 6.7 Cummins
How many belts do a vehicle has?
Before the advancement in automobile technology, each vehicle component had a belt. As a result, vehicles experienced unreliable performance as each component’s belt began to feel weak, damaged, or old, which always occur at a different time.
Now, in newer vehicles, the situation is different. The serpentine belt has solved the unreliable performance caused by a breakdown in a certain component’s belt.
Instead of having a belt for each component, a single belt controls all of these components now.
So, whenever this single belt goes bad, all the components connected to it are affected until a replacement is done.
What happens to the serpentine belt as it becomes older?
As the belt becomes older, it cracks, becomes shiny, wears out, and the rubber part can peel or fall off its body.
In addition to the signs listed above, squealing, misalignment, and slippage may also occur. In case your serpentine belt is old, make sure you get a replacement as soon as possible.
If the belt stops working, all the engine’s accessories lose their power.
What are the advantages of getting an old or damaged serpentine belt replaced?
Driving a vehicle with a damaged, faulty, or old serpentine belt is a ticking time bomb that may blow off at any time.
Since the serpentine belt powers most of the vehicle engine’s accessories, this may lead to a major breakdown in these accessories if it gets damaged.
When you replace your belt from time to time, especially when you notice that it is not in the best condition, this lowers the risk of a major breakdown.
How often should I inspect the belt?
The belt inspection is not something you can do all the time since it may not be necessary.
However, a visual inspection whenever you are changing the engine oil or during the annual vehicle inspection appointment may be a great time to determine the belt’s condition.
How often do I need to replace the serpentine belt?
The good thing about this engine component is that it is designed to last for a very long time. Thanks to the advancement and innovation in rubber technology.
Usually, a serpentine belt should last for about 100,000 miles on average.
Verdict
This article has discussed all the necessary details you need to understand regarding how to change serpentine belt 6.7 Cummins.
Ensure you follow the tips discussed on how to identify issues with the serpentine belt and how to fix these issues.
The serpentine belt is one of the most affordable engine components. Get this component replaced as soon as possible to avoid spending excessively on possible damage to other expensive engine components.