I found this excellent DIY for How to Change the Serpentine Belt:

https://www.fitfreak.net/forums/fit-...tine-belt.html

I would like to know approximately when (at what milage) folks here are having to do the belt change.

Thanks!

 

I believe 07 and 08,s have a chain so it lasts alot longer although my timing belt on my 93 escort gt with a twin cam went 100,000 but i changed at 90,000 cause you could really screw up your motor if that goes

 

You are talking about a timing belt or a timing chain. I am talking about the rubber serpentine belt that drives the alternator and the a/c.

 

At 62K, Our Fit's serpentine belt is working OK.

On the CR-V, the s-belts start to squeal (usually when cold) at about 90K miles. Once you hear the squeal, replace the belt...the drive surface will be glazed and prone to slippage.

 

That sounds like helpful information indeed.

Thank you.

 

Markk, I did that writeup you mentioned. At 77k, my belt had severely cracked ribs. The car is a 2007, and coolant may have gotten onto the belt sometime and degraded it. Anyway, it was pretty bad when I got it off.

I wish I knew when the maintenance kinder comes on for it. I bought the car used and decided to do all the regular maintenance in one weekend.

 

Thanks, Bryan.

I can't even see the belt, and the Service Manual indicates that changing the belt is a PITA. As a do-it-yourself-er, I'm not happy.

 

It's on the left side of the engine as you look at it. Serpentine belts are usually very well tucked away or hidden, because they're very dangerous as the engine is turning.

The good news is, the job is straightforward and you can' break anything. The bad news is, although you can do tit a 2nd time 50% faster, that opportunity isn't coming again for a long time. So you learn a lot but the lesson is wasted.

 

Thanks again, Bryan.

Just to be clear: I know where the belt is. But, because of the way everything is jammed into the engine bay, the belt is hard to see (to assess its condition) and access (to change or adjust it) without taking things apart. Also, the belt does not have an automatic tensioner, so any belt change will require tension adjustments, and I do not have that tool nor those skills.


BTW, did you say that your belt got noisy before it needed to be changed?

 

Oh, sorry about that. I get it now. Yeah, there's no way to assess the belt without removing it. I suppose you could put the car on ramps and remove the plastic tray below to see the belt ribs. Maybe this is something to do during the next oil change.

Yes, my belt did make the classic belt squealing noises. Especially when the AC kicked on. Also, the idler pulley began chirping, so I'd hear a constant squeaking at any RPM if the AC was on, seperate from the squealing at low RPM or startup.

 

There is no maintenance minder code to change this belt. The code "2" calls for checking this belt's condition.

 

I did mine at 105K and I think it was recommended for changing out when you got over 100k miles. The drive belt had some cracks so the condition was deteriorating. It was not making any noise. I bought the car (07 SS 5sp) with 103K on it and just wanted checked out. New pads and rotors up front too. As well I changed a lot of fluids, brake,clutch,transmission. New plugs too. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks, Don.

 

I just recently bought my car with almost 118k miles and it didnt look like the belt was ever replaced. Good thing I took a look and replaced it before worse things could have happened.

 

How did the replacement go?

 

I followed the diy and it wasnt at all that hard or complicated. It took a little more time than I expected because I couldnt get the belt back on perfectly (I have big hands). Just make sure to tighten the bolts to the right torque.

 

What about belt tension? How did you set that?

 

If it's like other newer cars, tension's itself automatically.

 

It's not like the newer cars.

 

A mistake on Honda's part