{"id":85990,"date":"2023-06-26T00:17:35","date_gmt":"2023-06-26T07:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=85990"},"modified":"2023-10-23T17:21:50","modified_gmt":"2023-10-24T00:21:50","slug":"symptoms-of-a-bad-alternator-belt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-alternator-belt\/","title":{"rendered":"Symptoms of a Bad Alternator Belt"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_8f6e17-52{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_8f6e17-52 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_8f6e17-52 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-632ec8  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-563d4e\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_0f2504-1a\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_0f2504-1a\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_0f2504-1a\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_0f2504-1a summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_0f2504-1a\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Alternator belts are used to drive the alternator, making it an important component when it comes to powering your vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system.<\/li><li>Some symptoms of bad alternator belts include squealing noises, weak or dead batteries, and an illuminated battery warning light.<\/li><li>Your vehicle&rsquo;s alternator belt should be replaced every four years or 40,000 miles for good measure.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Your vehicle&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/alternator\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"alternator\">alternator<\/a> is a power generator in charge of keeping the battery charged and powering the different electrical components in your ride. The alternator belt is what drives the alternator, making it essential for various parts of your vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/alternator-belt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"alternator belt\">alternator belt<\/a> used to be a separate V-belt solely dedicated to driving the alternator. In newer vehicles, it&rsquo;s been replaced by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/serpentine-belt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"serpentine belt\">serpentine belt<\/a> that drives multiple units throughout the vehicle, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and air pulleys. If your alternator or serpentine belt is damaged, you may notice the following symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bad Alternator Belt Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Squealing Belt Noises<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad or loose alternator belt will tend to flap around since it won&rsquo;t be properly seated in the system. This flapping can lead to squealing noises while your vehicle is running, especially in cold weather. The noise is likely one of the things you&rsquo;ll notice first with a problematic alternator band. Alternatively, a weak tensioner might also be what&rsquo;s causing the noise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"alternator with alternator belt\" class=\"wp-image-86092\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/alternator-belt.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>In newer vehicles, the alternator belt has been replaced by a serpentine belt that drives multiple units throughout the vehicle, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and air pulleys.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weak or Dead Battery<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Because the alternator keeps the battery charged, a problem with the alternator belt means your battery performance will decline. You might notice that the battery is either weak or completely dead, leading to a vehicle that&rsquo;s difficult to start or an engine that cranks slowly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Battery Warning Light<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Related to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/5-signs-of-a-bad-battery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"weak or dead battery\">weak or dead battery<\/a>, your vehicle&rsquo;s battery warning light might turn on. This is an indicator that there&rsquo;s something wrong with your vehicle&rsquo;s electrical system. A bad alternator belt may trigger this since it can&rsquo;t keep the battery charged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Flickering or Dimming Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your alternator can&rsquo;t keep the battery charged because of a faulty alternator belt, you&rsquo;ll notice the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/why-are-my-headlights-flickering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"lights of your vehicle flicker\">lights of your vehicle flicker<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-causes-dim-headlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"dim\">dim<\/a> as you drive. Both interior and exterior lights will be affected by the loss of power.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Electrical Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You might notice your car&rsquo;s other electrical components begin to malfunction as well. A failing alternator belt leads to your battery being unable to power all the different electronics effectively. Your radio or infotainment might shut down periodically, and your automatic windows might be sluggish while operating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Stalling or Failing Engine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your vehicle&rsquo;s battery starts to fail while your engine is running thanks to a bad alternator band, it can start to affect the fuel injectors. The fuel injectors require electricity to function, and they will misfire if the electricity isn&rsquo;t immediately available. You could also start to have driveability issues due to low battery voltage, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-type-of-damage-to-expect-from-an-overheating-car\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"overheating\">overheating<\/a> might result from the cooling fans demanding a lot of electrical current.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"black sedan with illuminated headlights\" class=\"wp-image-86093\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/dim-headlights.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>If your alternator can&rsquo;t keep the battery charged because of a faulty alternator belt, you&rsquo;ll notice the lights of your vehicle flicker or dim as you drive.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Burning Smell<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A bad alternator belt might cause excess friction while in operation. As the heat builds up from the friction, it&rsquo;ll give off a burning rubber smell, which is similar to the scent of an electrical fire. This happens if the belt is slipping on its pulley, which can cause your alternator to output lower amounts of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Squealing Noise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On older vehicles, a loose alternator belt will cause a high-pitched noise when starting the engine while it&rsquo;s cold. As the engine warms up, the sound will start to fade. This happens because the alternator belt is more slippery when it&rsquo;s cold, which makes it slip on the alternator. If the belt is very loose, the high-pitched noise might become constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Should You Replace Your Alternator Belt?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An older V-belt alternator band can last up to 4 years or 40,000 miles before it fails. Serpentine belts, on the other hand, should be good for anywhere between 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) belts are especially durable and can last up to 10 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That being said, belts still degrade and may get problematic when they reach their threshold. Belts can begin to fray and peel or become loose and misaligned before they completely fail. You&rsquo;ll also usually see slight cracking between the grooves on the inside of an old serpentine belt, indicating that it needs to be replaced soon. Now that you know what a loose alternator belt can cause, you&rsquo;re more able to gauge if your vehicle needs a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Usually with serpentine belts, aside from fraying due to an alignment issue or something damaging the belt, you will start to see slight cracking in between the grooves on the inside of the belt. Once you start to see that, replace the belt soon.<\/p><cite>&ndash;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/anthonyharlin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\">Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Your vehicle&rsquo;s alternator is a power generator in charge of keeping the battery charged and powering the different electrical components&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-alternator-belt\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":86091,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,3744],"tags":[3517],"ppma_author":[2607,3742],"class_list":{"0":"post-85990","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-diy","8":"category-ignition-system","9":"tag-alternator-belt","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Symptoms of a Bad Alternator Belt - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A bad alternator belt spells trouble for your battery, which can, in turn, cause some electrical problems. Learn what to look out for here!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/symptoms-of-a-bad-alternator-belt\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Symptoms of a Bad Alternator Belt - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A bad alternator belt spells trouble for your battery, which can, in turn, cause some electrical problems. 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