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Serpentine belt replacement on 2005 Scion xA?
My local oil change/tire place has recommended that they replace the serpentine belt on my 2005 Scion xA. I read another answer here (from ChadF) that the 2005 xA has a timing chain, not a belt. Are the timing chain and serpentine belt different parts?
If so, when should the serpentine belt be replaced, and what signs should I look for to know if it needs to be replaced (noises, behavior of the vehicle/engine, etc.)?
Thanks so much!
2 Answers
- ?Lv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
The timing chain and Serpentine belt are radically different. The timing chain times the firing of the engine with the lifting and depressing of the cylinders and valves.
The Serpentine belt provides power to several other parts of the engine, including but possibly not limited to the water pump, AC and Alternator.
The serpentine belt can be inspected visually and needs to be replaced when it starts to exhibit cracks or fraying along the edges. Depending on the configuration of your engine, you can actually replace the serpentine belt yourself pretty cheaply. If you are unsure and don't mind the expense, have the oil change people do it. I will say that if they are willing to do that, it will be pretty easy to change.
The timing belt can not be inspected manually and should be replaced only by certified mechanics. Your car manufacturer has guidelines on when you should think about replacing your timing belt... could be around 100k miles.
Source(s): know a little bit about cars as well as computers. :)
