the5.ohh
Legend
I noticed the other day my belt is starting to seperate. Its the one belt that goes around the whole front, idk what its called. I need to replace it soon, whats it called and whats a good brand to get?
Ripped belt?
- Thread starter the5.ohh
- Start date
Your drive belt... also known as a serpentine belt.
If you're starting to notice wear on it or cracking of any kind. Replace it now before it breaks on you while you're out and about.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Thanks man, thought it was called the serpentine belt but wasn't sure. And yeah, I can put my finger on the belt and one side of the belt goes lower than the lower when I push on it. I'll see about getting a new one in the morning, thanks!
whiplash473
Post Whore
goodyear makes a good belt but if you wanna cheap one then all the parts stores have them..with belts you kinda either get a good one or a regular one..not really any in between
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the5.ohh
Legend
I'll get the goodyear then, rather not cheap out on maintenance parts. thanks man
I've always gotten DuraLast. The off brands seem to do fine.
Replacing your serp belt is recommended every 30,000 miles or every 2 years.
Replacing your serp belt is recommended every 30,000 miles or every 2 years.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Gotcha, I'll look for a Duralast or Goodyear, see what the stores got. That actually makes sense, I just hit 55k so I'm close to that every 30k replacement lol.
Yeah, but your car is also 18 years old... So, if you're following the recommended service plan, it should have been replaced about 9 times by now.
At any rate, I'm glad to hear you caught it in time. If that thing breaks while you're away from home, your water pump, alternator and power steering all die and you're basically stranded.
I had mine break on my cobra about a month or two ago. Luckily I was only a few blocks from home and I babied it back. Without the water pump turning, it'll overheat in no time.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Ah no way I'm following that lol. Regular maintenance when its time, i.e oil changes, fluids, plugs, wires etc. I put on like 1200 miles from last September to June. I drove like close to 100 miles to Seaside, NJ and back, changed my oil when I got back. Yeah I'm glad too lol, I'll go in the morning to get a belt. I almost got stuck, well I did in the middle of the street, when I thought my IAC went and my car wouldn't start. Lucky I got stuck in front of my house in the street lol. Is the belt hard to put on? To take it off I'm assuming I can just cut it right?
They're pretty easy to take off. To install, you just route the new belt, release your tensioner pulley, slip it over and then put tension back on.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Thanks a lot man i appreciate it
I would not cut it, that would release the tensioner and allow it to hit it's stop point pretty hard. To do it right all you need is a 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar, 10 seconds to get the old belt off, under 5 mins to get new one on (allowed extra time to double check you routed it correctly)
MustangChris
Mythic Level
serpentine belt.
gator belt by good year (if you have OEM pulleys)
if you have notched pulleys get a gates belt.
this is an example of a notched pulley (notice the side-ways grooves on the ribs?)
If you use a gator back belt and a notched pulley it's not uncommon for the belt to fail prematurely.
replace your belt immediately.
gator belt by good year (if you have OEM pulleys)
if you have notched pulleys get a gates belt.
this is an example of a notched pulley (notice the side-ways grooves on the ribs?)
If you use a gator back belt and a notched pulley it's not uncommon for the belt to fail prematurely.
replace your belt immediately.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Thanks guys, gonna check the type of pulley right now. Goin to the store this aftenoon, won't use the car till I replace it
Also, make yourself a diagram of the pulley and belt routing before you remove the old one. That way getting the new one on should be a snap.
I just took mine on/off the other day and mine takes a 15mm on the tensioner. Easiest way for me is to remove the air box and get to it from that side. But I have a big radiator, you may have better room from the front.
Also, before you put the new one on, compare it wit the old one, make sure they are same size (they won't be exact). But if the new one is significantly longer/shorter, you may need to take it back. I had that happen a couple of times.
I just took mine on/off the other day and mine takes a 15mm on the tensioner. Easiest way for me is to remove the air box and get to it from that side. But I have a big radiator, you may have better room from the front.
Also, before you put the new one on, compare it wit the old one, make sure they are same size (they won't be exact). But if the new one is significantly longer/shorter, you may need to take it back. I had that happen a couple of times.
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the5.ohh
Legend
Thanks Rich, ill take a picture and draw it out
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the5.ohh
Legend
Got the belt. Kid working at auto zone asked me if it was dealer installed or factory installed. I said dude I have absolutely no clue honestly and I laughed. It actually asks him on the computer that, so I said I guess dealer installed idk. So he gave me that one, only one they have is a ValuCraft. Told me to check how it fits, if it don't just bring it back
Good luck with the install. It should be pretty straight forward. 
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the5.ohh
Legend
Yay the guy gave me the wrong one!!
MustangChris
Mythic Level
of course! lol.... just your luck.
