How do you tighten the belt on a Jeep Cherokee?
You loosen the tension pulley bolt right under the power steering pump with 15mm box end wrench a few turns. Then you turn the long bolt clockwise to tighten the belt, then torque the front tension pulley bolt down.
Can a tight serpentine belt cause loss of power?
If the belts are too tight, they can put a strain on the shaft (and its bearing) of the alternator, power-steering pump and even the water pump.
How do I know if my serpentine belt is tight enough?
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. Either of the positions does not work for the vehicle.
Can a serpentine belt stretch?
Serpentine belts stretch with age and use; as time goes on, the rubber becomes dryer and less pliable making cracking more prevalent. However, cracking can also be caused by a defective tensioner.
What does a loose serpentine belt sound like?
A loose drive belt will often be noisy, squeaking a bit, or emitting a high-pitched squeal. The most obvious sign of a loose drive belt, though, is in its appearance and tension. Belts are used to rotate components on the engine assembly, such as a coolant pump (water pump).
What happens if my serpentine belt breaks while driving?
A broken serpentine belt will immediately lead to a loss of power assist for the steering system. A broken serpentine belt will stop the water pump from circulating antifreeze through the cooling system. This ultimately means that once the serpentine belt breaks the engine can overheat anytime or anywhere.
How long should a serpentine belt last?
60,000 to 100,000 miles
Is changing a serpentine belt easy?
Replacing the serpentine belt is as simple as threading it into position, cranking the tensioner and slipping the belt over the tensioner pulley, or nearest pulley up top. Belt tensioners are mostly spring tension. Let the engine idle for at least 60 seconds as you make sure the serpentine belt is working correctly.
Do I have to change timing belt?
Every manufacturer is different, but typically, the timing belt needs to be replaced every 60,000–100,000 miles. Because the timing belt is made of rubber, it will wear down over time and eventually break. When it breaks, the engine will stop running or the components will be out of sync, damaging the engine.