At my 65k maintenance for my 2016 SR5, they recommended drive belt as routine maintenance, since the schedule calls for 60k or 5 years. I've heard some people say they've gone 100k on theirs. How do I know it needs to actually be replaced? It looks okay to me and I don't see any signs of wear, but could there be stress on it that isn't visible that causes it to eventually break?
How do I know when nmy drive belt needs replacing?
- Thread starter lawless97
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If it's not making noise or doesn't show any cracks on the inside of the belt, I'd keep rolling with it. It should easily go to 100k, then you might think about replacing it as a preventative measure.
Whippersnapper02
Senior Member
There's a tool to measure the rib depth. The new belts tend to not crack so it's hard to read them.
wsgoat
New member
This!
The serpentine belt is cheap and easy to replace, and so are the belt idlers. You'll save a boat-load of money if you learn to do some of this basic maintenance yourself.
Just changed mine on '17 with about 97K miles. Planned for early preventative maintenance at 100K. Belt change took maybe 20 minutes. Checked idler and tensioner pulleys and they were all spinning fine. Nothing squeaking.
Old belt looked fine - no cracking on ribs. 60K sounds way too early.
Old belt looked fine - no cracking on ribs. 60K sounds way too early.
Slip your camera under that top idler pulley where the belt is flexed backwards and take a picture. If you don't see cracks, you ought to be good. They're simple to change. Only cost about 50 bucks. Make sure when you change them that you take the time to exercise the pulley tensioner otherwise you may have problems. Sometimes they stick after not moving for some time.
kenwilliams0803
New member
2016 with 70k here. Just did mine. It's rubber that's almost 10 years old and is one thing I'd hate to have fail on me on a trip. I was getting a soft squeak squeak squeak on startup when it had rained overnight. I carry the old one as a backup and a spare 14mm (I think, or whatever it is) in case I ever have to change it on the road.
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155K on my 2010 and the original belt (14 years old). Having the dealer to do a radiator flush today but then started to think about the serpentine belt and water pump. How many of you have had to replace the water pump? No drips or leaks from mine but 155K is a long time for a water pump (maybe old school train of thought).
kenwilliams0803
New member
People generally don't do the water pump on these as PM. They last a long time. Personally I'd do the belt and leave the WP alone until it starts giving problems.
Hoses maybe? I'd do them before the WP.
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The accessory belt seldom breaks or has "wear". The usually problem is the belt will become glazed due to heat, then it will squeal as it slips over the pulleys. That is the time to replace it.
You can tell a belt is glazed because it will be shiny and the ribs will be hard and possibly cracked. Yours does not look like that.
Some people try to extend the life of a glazed belt by , using "belt dressing", available at any auto parts stores, but that is only a temporary measure if the belt is already glazed.
