Change interval for accessory drive/serpentine belt?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 106
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2008 E550
Change interval for accessory drive/serpentine belt?
There's no official change interval that I can find, and this seems to vary greatly by car.
I have an 08 E550 that has about 140k miles and I'm wondering if I should change this out proactively before it becomes an issue.
Any guidance on when this car needs its belt changed?
I have an 08 E550 that has about 140k miles and I'm wondering if I should change this out proactively before it becomes an issue.
Any guidance on when this car needs its belt changed?
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,190
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From: MA
2008 E350 4Matic, 2011 E350 4matic
Search the old threads, 140k is pretty good for the original set. Mine started making noise at about the 70k mark and I replaced the belt, tensioner, and the two idler pulleys with the contiential kit on Rockauto. About $130 before the 5% off code on retailmenot.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
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From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
Inspect, inspect, inspect.
The belt is easy to judge as aged will show cracks long before it fails. Also any strings showing outside are not a good sign.
Those belts can last long time and not being original owner, I think I replaced factory belts at 280 k miles and 25 years.
Carrying old belts as spare is risky. You have the belt that is already old, you carry it in the trunk for another 2 years and when new belt fails, you spend time to put it on - only to have it fail 10 miles later.
For years I was carrying new belts for spare (with tools to replace them) as in the past belts were going very often.
This way I have 5 new serpentine belts in my garage and no idea what they fit.
The belt is easy to judge as aged will show cracks long before it fails. Also any strings showing outside are not a good sign.
Those belts can last long time and not being original owner, I think I replaced factory belts at 280 k miles and 25 years.
Carrying old belts as spare is risky. You have the belt that is already old, you carry it in the trunk for another 2 years and when new belt fails, you spend time to put it on - only to have it fail 10 miles later.
For years I was carrying new belts for spare (with tools to replace them) as in the past belts were going very often.
This way I have 5 new serpentine belts in my garage and no idea what they fit.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
2008 E550
Inspect, inspect, inspect.
The belt is easy to judge as aged will show cracks long before it fails. Also any strings showing outside are not a good sign.
Those belts can last long time and not being original owner, I think I replaced factory belts at 280 k miles and 25 years.
Carrying old belts as spare is risky. You have the belt that is already old, you carry it in the trunk for another 2 years and when new belt fails, you spend time to put it on - only to have it fail 10 miles later.
For years I was carrying new belts for spare (with tools to replace them) as in the past belts were going very often.
This way I have 5 new serpentine belts in my garage and no idea what they fit.
The belt is easy to judge as aged will show cracks long before it fails. Also any strings showing outside are not a good sign.
Those belts can last long time and not being original owner, I think I replaced factory belts at 280 k miles and 25 years.
Carrying old belts as spare is risky. You have the belt that is already old, you carry it in the trunk for another 2 years and when new belt fails, you spend time to put it on - only to have it fail 10 miles later.
For years I was carrying new belts for spare (with tools to replace them) as in the past belts were going very often.
This way I have 5 new serpentine belts in my garage and no idea what they fit.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 9,224
Likes: 1,798
From: V E G A S
1922 Ford Model T / no OBD
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Super Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 545
Likes: 87
From: Southern California
Just be aware, putting on a new belt and also a new tensioner may expose other belt driven parts that are worn out. A new tight belt with a new tensioner showed that the pulley on my power steering pump was worn out. All that new stress wore it out even faster and I was now replacing the power steering pump as well. A 10 year old car with 140k, I would do a thorough inspection of all the belt drive accessories and pulleys.
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