Serpentine Belts

[swall]

I've never seen any procedure for setting serpentine belt tension at a specified temperature. I know many vehicles have spring loaded automatic tensioners, but on the ones you have to set manually ,it seems to me that if you were in exteme cold, such as northern Canada, a tension set at say 25C in the summer would result in excessive belt tension in winter.

 

[mauner]

swall,

Manual belt tension adjustment must be made for each season.

I bet the owners manual requires a tension check every 3000 miles (about the same frequency as changing the oil ).

Most cars, like mine, have automatic spring tensioners to avoid the need to go to the shop for service.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Since any belt stretches a little, permanently, during the first few minutes of operation, I don't see how you could demonstrate such a 'problem' outside of a very well equipped laboratory.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[swall]

Per mauner's suggestion, I checked the owner's manual, which refered me to the separate service pamphlet for the service intervals. Unfortunately, I had pitched the pamphlet years ago. Then I check the service manual and found nothing relating to periodic belt adjustment. After seeing Mike's comments, I think it is a moot point.