Camry LE 2005 Serpentine Belt

[ar757]

Hi,
On my last visit for oil change to jiffy lubes the mechanic told me that the serpentine belt needs to be replaced, he showed me 1 crack in the belt. I asked how urgent is the replacement, he told it can wait for some time. though ideal is to replace when you see 3-4 cracks within 1 inch. He showed only 1 in the whole belt length that was visible. Since, then I am regularly observing the condition of the SB and don't see cracks. I am wondering are there any other signs of SB's aging? Also, how often (miles) the SB should be changed and what is the best quality SB for a Camry 2005 LE?
In my recent observation, I see a shiny line in the valleys of the belt, is this normal?
Please reply asap.
Thanks,
Arani

[Glenn8963]

that is dependent on some different factors. some belts can go above 100,000 miles, some break at under 50,000 miles.

i say if there are several cracks with-in a 2 inch view, replace the belt. the shiny line is wear and and it is normal.

have the belt checked at least twice per year, or every 20,000 miles. some may recommend a new idler pulley as well. the idler pulley is what holds tension on the belt, and the spring in the tensioner pulley will wear out over time. i have actually seen idler pulleys explode, and do a whole lotta damage. there isn't any PM service for serpentine belts, replace as needed.

[ar757]

Thank you Glenn for this response. Please let me know what do you mean by PM Service, I am unable to get the full form of it. Also, regarding the Tensioner Pulley Spring, can I inspect it or should I take it to the mechanic? do you know of an estimate it costs to replace the pulley and belt. My camry has about 70.5K milles on it and mostly highway driven.
Thanks again,
Arani

[Glenn8963]

Originally Posted by ar757

Thank you Glenn for this response. Please let me know what do you mean by PM Service, I am unable to get the full form of it. Also, regarding the Tensioner Pulley Spring, can I inspect it or should I take it to the mechanic? do you know of an estimate it costs to replace the pulley and belt. My camry has about 70.5K milles on it and mostly highway driven.
Thanks again,
Arani

yes, PM means, "preventative maintenance", you do work to the vehicle BEFORE something goes wrong, like as you would say an oil and filter change, tire rotations, etc.

by doing a PM service on your car as per toyota guides, you save yourself some head aches. now, also, there are some items that are not in the maintenance guide, and at least one of those is the serpentine belt or idler pulley. those are done on a "as needed basis"....

but, to avoid costly repairs, at the most inconvenient times when you may not have any extra money, doing preventative maintenance ahead of time cuts down on the HUGE bill you will get later...

i have no exact prices for idler pulleys or serp belts. there is (hopefully still) a member here known as "toyotapartsman"....

look him up, send him a PM (private message) and give him the exact information about your car...he can then give you a much better idea on price, and you can also buy from him, he has a good reputation here.

but "on average", a serp belt can be (about) $70 and an idler pulley can be about $50....

well worth the money now, to avoid some all too real damage under the hood, should the idler pulley decide to crap out on you....