How Long Does a Serpentine/Drive Belt Last?

In order to operate, your car needs more than just a working engine and transmission. The “accessories” attached to the engine aren’t really optional. For instance, you need the alternator to supply electricity to run the engine, your radio, the HVAC system and more. Your power steering pump provides steering assist to make maneuvering your car easier. The power for all of those things comes from the engine via the serpentine/drive belt.

Most cars today have a single belt, called a serpentine belt. In the past, two or even three belts were used. The serpentine belt connects all the accessories on the engine to the main drive pulley, which is turned by the engine. As the pulley turns, the belt moves. This turns the pulleys on the attached accessories, providing them with the power to operate.

The serpentine/drive belt on your car is a crucial consideration, and it should be inspected at every maintenance interval (every oil change). The belt is in use every single time you start your engine, and it is used for as long as the engine is running. As you can imagine, that puts a lot of wear and tear on the belt. With that being said most serpentine/drive belts can last for a very long time before they need to be replaced.

The lifespan of the belt will depend mostly on the type of material it’s made of. Older style belts generally last about 50,000 miles, while those made from EPDM can last up to 100,000 miles. The best option is to just ensure that your car receives regular maintenance and that the belt is inspected every time. If it breaks, you’ll find that your driving experience is more than a little bit changed. Without this belt, your power steering pump won’t work, your A/C system won’t work, and even your alternator won’t operate. That means you’ll be running on battery power until the engine drains it, and then you’ll be stuck on the side of the road.

While your belt should last for a very long time, there are a few signs of aging and wear that you should keep an eye out for to prevent yourself from being stranded. These include:

  • Squealing from under the hood (this can indicate a stretched belt)

  • Cracks in the belt

  • Nicks, cuts or tears in the belt

  • Missing grooves on the belt’s inner surface

  • Power steering assist doesn’t work (indicates a problem with the belt or the power steering system)

  • Battery light is on in the dash while the car is running

If you experience any of these symptoms, YourMechanic can help. Our mobile mechanics can come right to your home or office to inspect and replace a broken or worn serpentine/drive belt.


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Recent Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement reviews

Excellent Rating

(5,908)

Rating Summary
5,654
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5,654
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32
21
61

Robert

21 years of experience
1307 reviews
Robert
21 years of experience
Pontiac Grand Am V6-3.4L - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Wheat Ridge, Colorado
My Mechanic was respectful and I enjoyed talking with him and he explained what he was going to do. He also told me what little things I needed to do.
Mini Cooper - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Denver, Colorado
Robert was very patient and allowed us to get the right part after we purchased the wrong one. Thanks so much!

Lavell

29 years of experience
405 reviews
Lavell
29 years of experience
Toyota Matrix L4-1.8L - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Alameda, California
Lavell was amazing! Great communication and expertise. Quick service with detailed explanation. All done with care and professionalism.
Chevrolet Sonic - Serpentine/Drive Belt - Lafayette, California
Lavell is absolutely wonderful. Very knowledgeable and very quick! I love his transparency when diagnosing car problems. I appreciate all of the help, thank you, Lavell!

Raymond

38 years of experience
613 reviews
Raymond
38 years of experience
Nissan Versa Note L4-1.6L - Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement - Henderson, Nevada
Raymond is super awesome and fixed the belt on our car super fast and was super nice I would definitely hire him again.

Andrew

16 years of experience
657 reviews
Andrew
16 years of experience
Ford Taurus V6-3.0L - Serpentine/Drive Belt Replacement - Portland, Oregon
Andrew was very nice and pleasant. He was very thorough with his work and he really went out of his way to get my car running again. He was very knowledgeable and he was kind enough to answer all of my questions in a way that I could easily understand. This was one of the best experiences I have had working with a mechanic.

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