How to Fix Wear on a Serpentine Belt

A serpentine belt can show signs of wear and still be functional before it needs to be replaced, but there is technically no way to fix wear on a serpentine belt without replacing it. If there is excessive wear, but you are unable to replace the belt right away, you can apply a belt dressing to keep the belt from breaking until you change it.

Instructions

1

Determine if you can repair the belt or if you have to replace the belt. Belts that have snapped must be replaced. Trying to tape or glue the serpentine belt back together doesn't work and can cause some major car problems.

2

Identify the type of wear on the belt if the belt is in one piece. Cracking is a good indicator of how much life your belt has left. If you have minimal cracking, no major chunks over half of an inch are missing and the tread is not worn thin, the belt Is still usable. If something is lodged in the belt's nylon reinforcement, it needs to be replaced and cannot be repaired.

3

Use a belt dressing if your belt has no major problems, but it is squealing every time you turn on your vehicle. There are two major application methods for belt dressings.

4

Follow the instructions carefully. Some require that your vehicle be turned on, and others require that your vehicle be turned off. Either way, the goal is to evenly distribute the belt dressing spray on the backside of the serpentine belt, and the car needs to idle after the application to coat the pulleys and the belt.