Serpentine Belt Replacement

Serpentine belt replacement is a function of how it wears down over time. It is, in fact, a rubber part designed to turn metal pulleys and run the various subsystems which maintain the vehicle's engine and driving ability. The serpentine belt runs the power steering and brake hydraulics, cabin air conditioner, alternator, and electric system, along with the engine fan and cooling system. Each of these systems is required for the car not just to run but to be comfortable and safe to drive. The rubber belt by design is softer than the steel it works with and, as such, is going to break down over time. For that reason, it was also engineered to show symptoms of wear and be relatively easy to replace when the time comes.

Ultimately, if left unattended, the serpentine belt will break, and the car will revert from power steering and brakes to manual, which are quite hard to use for two reasons. First, modern drivers aren't used to manual operation. Second, modern cars are designed to use hydraulic assistance and are more difficult to control manually compared to older vehicles, which incorporated gears and leverage instead of hydraulics to run steering and brakes manually. Fortunately, before the belt actually breaks symptoms, it will appear to notify the driver of a problem that appears through various systems, seemingly at random intervals. Air conditioning won't be effective, the electric system won't fully charge, and there will likely be annoying squeaking sounds from under the hood as the belt slips against the gears.