Author Topic: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?  (Read 1597 times)

jazzphil

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Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« on: March 01, 2023, 10:51:22 AM »
Has anyone felt the need to change their alternator drive belt?  Very difficult to determine its condition in situ.  Doesn't look too difficult a job to replace, but don't want to bother if experience shows it has a very long life...

Cheers.

madasafish

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #1 on: March 01, 2023, 11:20:23 AM »
My Jazz one is 10 years old.
Our Yaris one is 20 years old.

Both made in Japan. Both appear quiet with no cracking.

If it was a Ford or GM car, I would say change. (lower engineering standards - see past engine failures)

fatal

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #2 on: March 01, 2023, 06:52:33 PM »
I always inspect every year, my daughters Mini is 10 years old and still on the original, as is my sons old Jazz. I would replace if I suspected any damage/cracking.
I think therefore I'm not.

Jocko

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2023, 07:45:51 PM »
Mine was never replaced in 16 years and 149,000 miles. Inspected each year at service but my mechanic never felt the need to replace it.

Westy36

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2023, 09:31:46 PM »
Good question. The manual http://hondafitjazz.com/manual3/index.html advises just to check condition and make sure the tension is between two points.

Must admit, I've never checked mine. Probably should at some point.

A Continental ContiTech Drive Belt replacement can be bought for c£16 from EuroCP, so not a pricey part.

jazzphil

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2023, 09:09:24 AM »
Mine was never replaced in 16 years and 149,000 miles. Inspected each year at service but my mechanic never felt the need to replace it.

Thanks Jocko.  The difficulty is, it's impossible to inspect the important bit (the ribbed side of the belt) without removing it.  Whereupon you may as well replace it!

Lord Voltermore

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #6 on: March 02, 2023, 11:16:35 AM »
Mine was never replaced in 16 years and 149,000 miles. Inspected each year at service but my mechanic never felt the need to replace it.

Thanks Jocko.  The difficulty is, it's impossible to inspect the important bit (the ribbed side of the belt) without removing it.  Whereupon you may as well replace it!
Have you tried photographing it with a mobile phone?   You may be able to reach down to  an otherwise inaccessible  and poorly lit stretch.  If you can get the focusing right  they can be amazingly close up and detailed.   Sometimes worryingly so. TBH I have never tried it in this situation but it might work.   

If I take a selfie with my smartphone the result is an image of  wrinkly old man.  Obviously the phone must be faulty  and exaggerating   :P  But an image suggesting a drive belt is perished is probably best not ignored.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2023, 12:29:07 PM by Lord Voltermore »
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Jocko

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #7 on: March 02, 2023, 01:41:25 PM »
The difficulty is, it's impossible to inspect the important bit (the ribbed side of the belt) without removing it.  Whereupon you may as well replace it!
No good engineer or mechanic's toolkit should be without one.


Lord Voltermore

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #8 on: March 02, 2023, 02:14:47 PM »
Bit like the old anecdote. NASA spent billions developing a pressurised pen for use in weightless conditions.
 The Russians used a pencil.   ;D
  Trust a dog to guard your house  , but not your sandwich

fatal

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #9 on: March 02, 2023, 06:48:15 PM »
The difficulty is, it's impossible to inspect the important bit (the ribbed side of the belt) without removing it.  Whereupon you may as well replace it!
No good engineer or mechanic's toolkit should be without one.




Great for checking underneath the car for bombs as well :D
I think therefore I'm not.

Brakballe

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2023, 07:17:57 PM »
Has anyone felt the need to change their alternator drive belt?  Very difficult to determine its condition in situ.  Doesn't look too difficult a job to replace, but don't want to bother if experience shows it has a very long life...

Cheers.

Change when it squeaks, if not, no worries. They don't direct break anymore.

Jocko

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2023, 08:19:00 PM »
Great for checking underneath the car for bombs as well :D
And under kilts.

Lord Voltermore

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #12 on: March 03, 2023, 10:48:14 AM »
Great for checking underneath the car for bombs as well :D
And under kilts.
How does it affect the Scotland gender recognition legislation?   Is it illegal to up skirt a woman, but not a man, and what if a kilted man has applied to be legally  recognised as a woman ?   Sorry I dont mean to trivialise a serious issue.( Or take the post off topic  :o )
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Jocko

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #13 on: March 03, 2023, 03:07:16 PM »
A colleague of mine was an ex Black Watch Sergeant Major and he gave one of the guys a mirror on a stick (a bit bigger than the one shown) which was used to check the soldiers were following proper dress (undress) code.

embee

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Re: Auxilliary serpentine belt...when to change?
« Reply #14 on: March 03, 2023, 03:07:43 PM »
Nothing is worn under the kilt ........ it's all in perfect working order.  ;)

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