Serpentine belt

[rockhopper46038]

I just had my serpentine belt come off it's pulleys here in Castleton, and I was wondering if anyone had an idea of what this is going to cost me to have put back to rights? Since the belt is whole, and appears to be in good shape, I'm guessing the tensioner pulley broke off somewhere so I'll need another one. I'm tempted to do this one myself, but I don't have a lift, so I'm plannning on leaving this to the professionals...but in my mind, having crawled under the car in a cold, wet parking lot, I would really think this is a less than $100 job, plus the cost of the tensioner pulley. Am I in the ballpark, or is this going to seriously cut into my gun fund??

 

[Rookie]

You shouldn't need a lift, you can do it from the engine compartment. What kind of vehicle?

 

[trnsplntfrmohio]

what kind of car? if it has a timing driven water pump I don't see whay you shouldn't be able to get it where you need going.
chances are any professional mechanic is going to advise you to replace the belt as well.
but unless a pulley broke, it's most likely just the tensioner. but we can't give you any good answers til we know what kind of car.

 

[danielocean03]

PM Sent

 

[millfire517]

What kind of car???? Alot of dealers would charge like 20.00 to install a belt, but it has been a few years since I worked there.

 

[miguel]

Jiffy Lube told me they'd do it for about $100 a couple of months ago.

 

[tyler34]

Get yourself a gator v belt for $35 and take minutes to put it on. Your radiator should have a pic showing how to route it. For $100 they better give me a happy ending.

 

[trnsplntfrmohio]

I think you guys are missing the fact that a belt just doesn't fly off for no reason. There is another issue going on. and 100 dollars sounds about fair for a repair shop, remember you pay for what you don't know how to do.

Belt -35 dollars
Labor - 50 dollars (1/2 hour @100 an hour)
Shop Fees - 10 dollars

 

[danielocean03]

I think you guys are missing the fact that a belt just doesn't fly off for no reason. There is another issue going on. and 100 dollars sounds about fair for a repair shop, remember you pay for what you don't know how to do.

Belt -35 dollars
Labor - 50 dollars (1/2 hour @100 an hour)
Shop Fees - 10 dollars

, My thoughts exactly. And don't forget sales tax!

Something else is definitely causing an issue.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

Usually the spring in the tensioner pulley assembly breaks when this happens. Either way, you can do it from above and likely can't from below. Most people with any sort of mechanical aptitude can take care of this for just the price of parts and as Tyler said, the belt routing diagram should be printed on the core support above the radiator. $100-$150 is a good ballpark figure.

 

[Andre46996]

Or if he is really lucky it is a 3.4/3.1 and you have to support the engine while you remove the upper right motor mount to change the belt.

Without knowing what type of vehicle everyone is just guessing.

Did an Alternator seize up?
Just a tensioner?
Belts just don't come off normally.

 

[22rssix]

3.1 GM motor?

Sorry for the hijack. I have a 3.1 chevy malibu and if removing a motor mount and jacking the motor up just to replace the belt, then it might be worth paying someone.

 

[Andre46996]

3.1 GM motor?

Sorry for the hijack. I have a 3.1 chevy malibu and if removing a motor mount and jacking the motor up just to replace the belt, then it might be worth paying someone.

It has been about 6 years since I turned a wrench for a living but I believe so yes.

 

[Ricnzak]

PM Sent

Just listen to daniel and you'll be fine. Plus you'll have your own mechanic now. Thats a very handy thing to have.

 

[LEaSH]

Belts do indeed come off or break for no reason sometimes.

I had a belt with less than 5000 miles break when I was accelerating hard to get on the freeway.

I was perplexed that none of the other components caused the failure. I can only guess some road debris got up there and threw it off or broke it. I never found it, but I sure did hear it go.

 

[Farmritch]

I've had father in laws belt jump off in winter from running over a chunk of ice or a water puddle. Just put it back on

 

[danielocean03]

Belts do indeed come off or break for no reason sometimes.

I had a belt with less than 5000 miles break when I was accelerating hard to get on the freeway.

I was perplexed that none of the other components caused the failure. I can only guess some road debris got up there and threw it off or broke it. I never found it, but I sure did hear it go.

I've had father in laws belt jump off in winter from running over a chunk of ice or a water puddle. Just put it back on

Snow and ice are known for causing this, especially if your car doesn't have any undersheets.

I'd still scrutinize every component on the belt drive to ensure that there aren't any discrepancies, but it is very possible to have "jumped a belt" with some snow and or ice.

 

[rockhopper46038]

Thanks guys, and I will give Daniel a call in the morning...wifey made me go out carousing with her tonight after she picked me up from being stranded. It is a Jetta with a 1.9L turbodiesel and in retrospect I should have figured it out when the power steering failed yesterday; but I thought I had just lost the power steering pump. I mean, who needs power steering, anyway? The serpentine turns the alternator, so once the battery discharged, I was left dead in the water.

 

[96firephoenix]

3.1 GM motor?

Sorry for the hijack. I have a 3.1 chevy malibu and if removing a motor mount and jacking the motor up just to replace the belt, then it might be worth paying someone.

I hate those vehicles with a passion. my GF has the 4 cylinder, but I did a valve-cover gasket replacement on a 3.1 malibu... I never want to do that again. I pity you for having to work on one.

 

[gregtheplumber]

also belts stretch sometimes when they get old so that could make it come off also