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I change every 7, but that is me. Depends not only on mileage, idling, but also weather (Hot/Cold) all affects belt, IMHO (very humble opinion).
ADDED: Helps to look at your belt once in a while and look for any wear, tear on the belt and maybe look at yer pulleys and idler tensioner also. Force of Habit: PMCS (ie., military: Preventive Maintenance Checks Services, a condition burned into the brains of military personnel who deal with vehicles and equipment).
When Should You Replace the Serpentine Belt?
Your vehicle’s serpentine belt is one long, winding belt that snakes around several pulleys and is usually visible at the front or on the side of the engine. In most modern vehicles, it drives the air conditioning, power steering, water pump, and alternator – charging the battery and providing...brownsalignment.com
7 years. I do not travel ne distance enuf to put 70 K on a truck real quick. More on the 7 years ref sitting, heat, wear, cold, critters (U neva know), oil on belt from changes, all stuff like that. Also, like MONTANAHandy said, change, then keep the old one as a spare. BUT this is my personal preference, why I also posted that URL in my entry.Did you mean 70K ?
YUP, gotta look, and not buy the $19.95 replacement belt, LMAO. All a matter of personal preference and "feel good" syndrome. I know as my truck gets older, if I was thinking of a Long trip, I would pay serious attention, but again, just how I am since I started playing in the driveway on like a 65 Buick, hee hee.I would go by wear indicators (cracks, etc). Yeah, 100k isn't out of the question. Even if a belt has a lot of cracks, doesn't mean it's near failure. You gotta look at how many cracks, and even how deep are they, etc. And be sure to buy a quality replacement.
I know there are always the exceptions, 198K on a belt, OK, kinda like not changing timing belts on a lot of cars that have them that need to be changed at like 100K, or those silly "plastic" timing chain set ups. There is always something, just how the "world" turns. All in my very lowly IMHO...I know a guy with 198,000 on his original belt.
I'm waiting for his to break...
On my '05 CTD the serp belt failed at a bit over 28K miles. It was an odd failure, as it sorta began to shred one rib at a time. The belt did not have much in the way of cracking prior to that. I was fortunate that I got it shut down before the flailing tails did any collateral damage. All pulleys and idlers were A-OK. Installed another OEM belt, and it was still on there when I sold the truck. Other than that weird deal, I have never had a serp belt issue on any vehicle.
I know there are always the exceptions, 198K on a belt, OK, kinda like not changing timing belts on a lot of cars that have them that need to be changed at like 100K, or those silly "plastic" timing chain set ups. There is always something, just how the "world" turns. All in my very lowly IMHO...
Understand, just a saying. I have unfortunately had to help a few friends whom loved the extended look of time on those timing gear/chain fiascoes and what happens afterward, LOL. Glad at least our RAMS do not have to worry about that, just Cams and Lifters, argh, lol. But I shan't worry. Drive it, enjoy it, maintain MX, that be the key.Not exactly equivalent, T-Bird.....a timing belt failure will toast an interference engine, like a Honda. A snapped accessory belt is usually audible, at any rate you'll get a high coolant temp warning or run out of battery juice.
Generally (sans AC compressor), the accessory belt is not as heavily loaded as a cam timing belt. I remember on our big 60 liter diesel engine it took 50 horsepower to drive each camshaft!!!
I am a firm believer that sometimes a lil "Preventive MX" (PMCS), sometimes actually works and may save you from heartaches in the future. Just like maintaining good oil change intervals, using quality filters and oil, etc etc.,. All IMHO .....When my Gates HD isnt green anymore I swap it.
Nope, it was the factory belt, and was running true. I cut the flails off with my knife, and drove it to the house, as I was close by getting the mail. The belt didn't fully broke.Sounds like a misaligned belt? Offset on a pulley by one rib? Easy to do without 2 guys to change it.
Nope, it was the factory belt, and was running true. I cut the flails off with my knife, and drove it to the house, as I was close by getting the mail. The belt didn't fully broke.