When does the serpentine belt need changing?

When does it need replacing? Any time it gives you peace of mind. But cracking, hardening etc is a good time to throw a new one on. Doesn't mean it won't last you a while.. but hardened belts are what break when you least expect it. Feel a new belt and feel yours, and that will give you an idea of the difference. I change mine when my gut tells me it's had a long enough life. And then it serves as a back up in the event my replacement gets damaged somehow.

 

X2

 

If the belt self destructs in some manner, isn't the truck pretty much DRT? Change it and keep the old one.

 

Did mine at 94k miles. Old belt was in good shape. found it easier to reinstall from the bottom.

 

I bought a new belt before I bought my truck. I drove about 300 miles to get the truck. I had no idea of the condition of the belt and didn't want to be stranded on the way back. When I checked out the truck, the belt had lots of cracks. We stayed at a B & B that night. I thought about changing it in the B & B parking lot the next morning. Thinking about it was as far as I got. Took a chance, drove back and changed it the next day. Put the old one in the jack storage cubby.

 

My neighbor just changed his belt on his p4 4runner and apparently didnt put it on right because it shreded within a few miles, destroyed the crank seal and theres belt material in the oil pump, he drove it till it died from over heating, now its sitting. Make damn sure the belt is fully seated on every pulley.

 

I sure hope he isn't procreating...I'm just kidding...sort of.

 

I walked over because i saw him peeking under his hood, which couldnt be good, saw all the carnage looked at him looked at the carnage and looked back at him and i said your pretty much fucked buddy and walked away with the corona in hand, it was a good day

 

When it sounds funny.

Cool trick to determine if the serp is what’s causing a funny sound :

Put a little dab of soap on it while the truck is running.