2012 Buick Lacrosse Serpentine Belt Diagram (2024)

FAQs

Where is the serpentine belt diagram? ›

Some vehicles have the serpentine belt diagram located on a decal somewhere in the engine compartment. But if your car does not have a decal, you can easily look up the diagram in a repair manual or repair database. Another option is to take a photo of the old belt before removal.

To replace the Serpentine Belt on this vehicle will require the use of a special tool: Hydraulic Belt Tensioner Compressor.

If the belt is wobbling back and forth or the pulley is not spinning straight and wobbling, the pulley may be misaligned, which can cause the belt to squeal. Also, check if the belt is running in the center of the pulley and is not running off to the side.

Where can I find a belt routing diagram for my engine? A: Commonly a belt routing diagram sticker is on the underside of the hood or in the engine compartment.

You can replace a serpentine belt with ordinary hand tools. But we don't recommend it.

Depending on the engine in your vehicle, the serpentine belt may be located at the front of the engine bay, or it may be along one side. There may be engine covers in the way, so be prepared to remove them if need be.

The timing belt is inside the engine and keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in sync. It ensures that the engine intake and exhaust valves open and close in time with the pistons so the engine runs smoothly. The serpentine belt is what keeps the engine accessories running smoothly and efficiently.

We suggest technicians change a pulley whenever a timing belt or serpentine belt is changed and vice versa, but there are eight key warning signs to look out for when a pulley goes bad: Rock – Rock the pulley back and forth. There should be no movement or play from side to side.

One of the common bad idler pulley symptoms is when the engine belts start producing a squealing sound. When the pulley seizes, or the surface is worn-out, then there is a squealing noise as the engine belt rubs against its surface, due to the absence of enough motion from the pulley, a squealing sound is produced.

Use a ruler to check the belt's tension.

In many applications, the serpentine belt needs only to be reasonably tight. Because of this, a belt tension gauge is not necessary for most vehicles. Instead, use a ruler to measure the distance between the two furthest pulleys and find the midway point.

What are the symptoms of an over tightened serpentine belt? ›

Excessive Wear: A serpentine belt that is too tight can cause excessive wear on the belt and other components, leading to premature failure. The added tension can cause the rubber on the belt to wear down more quickly, which can cause the belt to crack or break.

A chirping sound could stem from misalignment of a pulley or drive belt, as well as a host of other issues.

Remove the serpentine belt from the tensioner pulley. With your hand or a torque, spin the pulley in the same direction it spins in when the engine is on. If it's not spinning smoothly, the tensioner is somewhat stuck. Visually inspect the tensioner.

The average cost for serpentine belt replacement is between $109 and $134. Labor costs are estimated between $57 and $72, while parts range between $52 and $62. Whether you go to the mechanic or do it yourself, replacing a serpentine belt costs $58 to $126.

Replacing the serpentine belt is as simple as threading it into position, cranking the tensioner and slipping the belt over the tensioner pulley, or nearest pulley up top. Belt tensioners are mostly spring tension. Once installed, the spring retains pressure to the belt.

The serpentine belt, driven by the crankshaft pulley, is connected to the engine. From there, it wraps around multiple other pulleys that power different components in the engine, such as the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, and water pump.