Can A Bad Serpentine Belt Cause Rough Idle? [Explained]

A serpentine belt is an essential component of your car that makes the engine run more efficiently. It runs other systems such as an alternator, water pump, air conditioning compressor, etc. But can a bad serpentine belt cause rough idle?

A rough idling car is when your car engine is running, and its wheels are not moving, but you can notice disturbing vibrations or shaking. The RPMs are also inconsistent, and you can hear a slipping sound from your car’s engine.

The serpentine belt turns the pulleys to work together with other accessories as a part of the machinery to move the vehicle along. A bad serpentine belt may prevent the pulley from turning correctly and consistently. So, you can hear the slipping sound and the unusual vibrations of the auto parts, as they are not held properly by the worn-off serpentine belt.

As it turns out, a bad serpentine belt can cause rough idle. If it is not tight enough or worn out, it won’t run as smoothly as it should. The pulleys and components driven by this belt fail to run smoothly, causing unnecessary vibrations in the engine.

A bad serpentine belt should be replaced immediately to avoid associated problems. It will show signs when it nears the end of its service life.

Read on for detailed information about the effects of a bad serpentine belt and the cost of replacing it on your car.

What is a Serpentine Belt, and What Does It Do?

A serpentine belt is one continuous or winding belt that drives multiple devices attached to your engine, which include the following:

• Alternator
• Power steering pump
• Air conditioning compressor
• Water pump
• Air pump
• Radiator fan

The serpentine belt transfers power from the main pulley to the pulleys attached to these accessories. The main pulley is coupled and drives directly to the engine’s crankshaft.

The serpentine is located outside the engine block. So, it is easy to identify it when you open the hood and check the engine bay. From its name, the serpentine belt coils around vehicle components.

This belt can be tensioned either automatically or manually, but most modern cars are equipped with automatic tensioners. As the name implies, the automatic tensioner keeps the serpentine belt at the right tension.

But why would you want to replace a serpentine belt? It might be contaminated with fluids, which causes slippage. This belt also wears over time due to frequent use.

Fortunately, a serpentine belt will always alert you when it is time to replace it. It shows signs and symptoms, as we will see later.

Can A Bad Serpentine Belt Cause Rough Idle?

If you have been asking yourself this question, the answer is yes. A Serpentine belt is an essential component of an engine system directly coupled to the engine’s crankshaft through the main pulley.

If the belt is worn out or damaged, it runs roughly. This will cause general shakiness of the engine at low speeds or when idling.

The accessories driven by a bad serpentine belt will also have unnecessary vibrations, which can be transmitted to the cabin. These factors contribute to a rough engine idle.

In other words, a damaged serpentine belt causes poor driving experience as the components fail, one after the other.

How Long Does a Serpentine Belt Last?

The typical lifespan of a serpentine belt is about 50,000-10,000 miles, but that depends on different factors. The model year, driving habit, brand, and vehicle mileage all affect the service life of this belt.

Also, the vehicle maker can determine how long the serpentine belt lasts. Different manufacturers use different methods and materials, which affects their lifespan.

Older serpentine belts were mainly made from neoprene rubber. These have a shorter lifespan than modern ones made of ethylene propylene diene monomer.

If your serpentine belt has an automatic tensioner, ask your mechanic to replace them. They likely wear out simultaneously.  

How to Tell If Serpentine Belt Is Bad: Symptoms of a Bad Serpentine Belt

The good news is your serpentine belt will not snap out of the blues. It fails intermittently, showing signs that alert you of the impending failure. The following are the most common symptoms of a failing serpentine belt:

Squealing Noise or Winning Sounds

A misaligned or slipping serpentine belt produces a squealing sound. The belt may need realignment or proper tensioning to clear the noise if you hear this sound. But the serpentine belt is damaged and should be replaced in some cases.

There can also be a whining sound, which increases and decreases as you accelerate and decelerate. This happens when the serpentine belt is too tight. The high tension puts more load on the bearings and pulleys driven by the belt.

The whining noise tells you the accessory pulleys are overloaded, pointing to the serpentine belt issue.

AC Not Working

As mentioned, the serpentine belt drives the air conditioning compressor. If it is damaged or slackened, it will slip over the pulley that turns the compressor.

Do not conclude that the serpentine belt is the culprit when no cool air comes from the AC vents. It is the likely victim if the air does not come from the vent, but sometimes it is the AC compressor.

Check the serpentine belt if there is no air conditioning. But if it is okay, check your entire AC system, including coolant.

Serpentine Belt Slipping

The serpentine belt slippage can be caused by loss of tension due to a defective belt tensioner or pulley misalignment. The belt may slip from the pulley grooves if the belt is overly loose.

Also, the serpentine belt may be misaligned with the pulleys. This will definitely cause it to slip.

The serpentine belt suffers constant wear and stretching forces. It becomes too loose to stay in the pulley grooves without proper tensioning.

Replacing the tensioner or the serpentine belt can help to solve the slippage problem.

Power Steering Not Working

Power steering makes it possible to turn the wheel with minimal effort. That is aided by a power steering pump driven by the serpentine belt.

A damaged or slacken serpentine belt cannot drive the power steering pump. So, turning the wheel becomes more difficult. More effort will be needed.

Engine Overheats

As stated, a serpentine belt drives the water pump and radiator fan. These are essential components of your car’s engine cooling system.

A bad serpentine belt causes the water pump and radiator fan to stop functioning. The result is a lack of engine cooling, leading to a rise in engine temperature.

Physically Damaged Serpentine Belt

Ask your mechanic to check your serpentine belt for wear and physical damage during every engine service. It makes it possible to catch any issues with it. And, of course, a visibly damaged serpentine belt should be replaced.

Rough Idle

As mentioned, serpentine drives other engine accessories and should run smoothly. A damaged one may not comply with this expectation. It is likely to run rough and cause engine vibrations.

Engine Stalls

This is straightforward if you understand how your car’s alternator works. This engine accessory generates electricity that charges the battery and runs other electrical systems, including vital engine functions.

A faulty or damaged serpentine belt may fail to drive the alternator. The result is a lack of enough electrical power for your car’s computer to control fuel injection and ignition timing. The engine may begin to misfire and eventually stall.

Check Engine Light Comes On

The check engine light is just one of the many dashboard lights that can come on when your serpentine belt is damaged. It is a vital component that ensures the proper functioning of other systems.

Engine overheating, misfiring, and experiencing rough idle are possible effects of a bad serpentine belt. These will cause the check engine to light up on your dashboard.

Engine Fails to Start

This also relates to the alternator operation. When starting the engine, the battery provides power to the starter motor to crank the engine. The car engine should run the alternator to generate electricity for continued operation.

If your battery is healthy and fully charged, the engine may start but will not run for long. But if the battery is weak, the engine may run for a few seconds and stall.  

Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost

There is no fixed cost of replacing a damaged serpentine belt because it depends on the car’s make, model, and year. The labor fees also vary from location to location.

Fortunately, a serpentine belt is affordable. The part costs about $25-$75, but you will pay an additional $100 to $200 in labor fees. You can save if you are a DIYer and decide to do it yourself.