2012 Buick Lacrosse Serpentine Belt Diagram (2024)

FAQs

How do I know if my serpentine belt is misaligned? ›

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.

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

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.

Check if the belt runs centrally on the pulleys. Any sideward movement or slippage can indicate misalignment. Straightedge or String Line: Place a straightedge or taut string along the faces of the pulleys to see if they line up perfectly. Any deviation from a straight line suggests angular or parallel misalignment.

The belt should have about a half an inch of play when at the appropriate tightness. If there is less than a half an inch, the belt will need to be loosened, if there is more, it will need to be tightened.

A timing belt has horizontal “teeth” designed to fit the cogwheels of the crankshaft and camshaft. A serpentine belt has V-shaped grooves that run vertically along the belt.

WHAT DOES A SERPENTINE BELT DO? The serpentine belt is one long, snaking belt that is designed to keep your alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning, and, in some cases, your water pump running smoothly and effectively.

As we mentioned early, a serpentine belt delivers power to your alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning compressor. In some cases, it also supplies power to your water pump.

This industry standard number, frequently denoted as the “PK” number, is printed next to the manufacturer's part number on almost every serpentine belt produced, and can be seen in the examples below. WHAT IS A “PK” NUMBER? A “PK” number is a worldwide standard metric belt measurement printed on most serpentine belts.

Look for cracks, fraying, or splits on the top cover. Look for signs of glazing on the belt's sides. Glazed or slick belts can slip, overheat, or crack. Twist a serpentine belt to look for separating layers, cracks, or missing chunks of the grooves on the underside.

How do I find the right belt? ›

How to Choose a Belt Size Based on Pant Size. An easy way to determine belt size is to simply “add 2″ to your off-the-rack pant size. For example, if you wear a 36”-waist trouser, then a 38 belt size will be a safe bet.

Misalignment: A chirping belt typically indicates an alignment problem between one or more components in the drive .

Flex the belt

With the engine running and the timing belt cover off, look at the belt as it runs. It should stay tight and straight, if it's flexing, that's bad news and means it is more likely to jump teeth, which will give your engine a bad day indeed.