Drive Belt??

LibertyRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 12:56 pm

Ok this maybe a noob question :oops:

but when you pop the hood on an 03 liberty the main belt that you see connected to a series of pulleys is that what is refered to as the drive belt? The manual refers to replacing the drive belt. I seen it refered to as the serpentine belt too.. is that correct?
What could be some problems will a streched or older belt? Thx

jeepkj02 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:04 pm

Yes, drive belt = serpentine belt.

Its a wear and tear item. Don't wait until your belt shreds off in the middle of the hwy and leaves you stranded. If it looks worn out, replace it now along with the belt tensioner. Easy job.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:22 pm

If it looks worn down or has cracks in it , replace it soon. I replace mine every 65/75000 miles just to be sure , hate to be broke down :wink:

( some change them more than that even! )

corwyyn · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:38 pm

You probably wouldn't notice a slightly stretched belt as the spring-loaded tensioner pulley will adjust to compensate, but a worn or frayed belt needs to be replaced. If your belt fails you loose everything it is connected with - water pump, power steering, alternator, A/C compressor. Let's just say if your belt fails you'll know it pretty much as soon as it happens :wink:

Here's a link to a how-to on changing it - if you have the belt and tools it's a simple five minute job (if it even takes that long).

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:52 pm

corwyyn wrote:

You probably wouldn't notice a slightly stretched belt as the spring-loaded tensioner pulley will adjust to compensate, but a worn or frayed belt needs to be replaced. If your belt fails you loose everything it is connected with - water pump, power steering, alternator, A/C compressor. Let's just say if your belt fails you'll know it pretty much as soon as it happens :wink:

Here's a link to a how-to on changing it - if you have the belt and tools it's a simple five minute job (if it even takes that long).

Yea what he said.

If you can read the directions on the picture right in front of you when looking at the engin, you can change the belt. 1 tool and 1 hand you can do it

oddball · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:03 pm

For anyone interested, the Goodyear Gatorback Poly-V part number is 4060875.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:32 pm

Believe it or not the OEM serp belt found at the dealer is a far superior serp belt over anything available in the aftermarket.Just saying the extra cost is actually worth it in this case.

oddball · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:44 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

Believe it or not the OEM serp belt found at the dealer is a far superior serp belt over anything available in the aftermarket.Just saying the extra cost is actually worth it in this case.

Okay so I'm curious. How is it superior? And what exactly is the cost?

ChiroKJ · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:46 pm

just an thought: when you replace the old belt keep it somewhere in your jeep. In case the new one ever breaks on you in the middle of nowhere you will have a backup :lol:

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:49 pm

oddball wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Believe it or not the OEM serp belt found at the dealer is a far superior serp belt over anything available in the aftermarket.Just saying the extra cost is actually worth it in this case.

Okay so I'm curious. How is it superior? And what exactly is the cost?

The "back" side has gripping crosshatch for less slippage on the smooth pulley's,and for some reason they actually last longer then aftermarket belts.The OEM belt I pulled off my KJ a few months ago that had 50,000miles on it looks better then the Gaterback belt that replaced it which only has 2000miles of use so far.Plus the OEM belt was exactly 2mm longer(stretch) then the brand new Gaterback that replaced it and the new belt is starting to slip under heavy alternator use.I'll be going to the local dealer on my next day off to get a OEM belt,last OEM belt ran me $75.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:51 pm

ChiroKJ wrote:

just an thought: when you replace the old belt keep it somewhere in your jeep. In case the new one ever breaks on you in the middle of nowhere you will have a backup :lol:

I've got a few in my KJ :wink:

,along with a tensioner,upper/lower radiator hoses,hose clamps,radiator cap,U-joints,U-joint straps and bolts,and extra fluids.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:59 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

ChiroKJ wrote:

just an thought: when you replace the old belt keep it somewhere in your jeep. In case the new one ever breaks on you in the middle of nowhere you will have a backup :lol:

I've got a few in my KJ :wink:

,along with a tensioner,upper/lower radiator hoses,hose clamps,radiator cap,U-joints,U-joint straps and bolts,and extra fluids.

Now come on everyone carries extra repair items like that don't they? :twisted:

I know I do :wink:

oddball · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:03 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

oddball wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Believe it or not the OEM serp belt found at the dealer is a far superior serp belt over anything available in the aftermarket.Just saying the extra cost is actually worth it in this case.

Okay so I'm curious. How is it superior? And what exactly is the cost?

The "back" side has gripping crosshatch for less slippage on the smooth pulley's,and for some reason they actually last longer then aftermarket belts.The OEM belt I pulled off my KJ a few months ago that had 50,000miles on it looks better then the Gaterback belt that replaced it which only has 2000miles of use so far.Plus the OEM belt was exactly 2mm longer(stretch) then the brand new Gaterback that replaced it and the new belt is starting to slip under heavy alternator use.I'll be going to the local dealer on my next day off to get a OEM belt,last OEM belt ran me $75.

Well I may be cheating, but because of the fact I have a family friend in the wholesale auto parts business, I could have bought 7 GY Gatorbacks for the price of a OEM. I'll let you know what kind of luck I have with the Gatorback.

Jeep Dawg · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:12 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

ChiroKJ wrote:

just an thought: when you replace the old belt keep it somewhere in your jeep. In case the new one ever breaks on you in the middle of nowhere you will have a backup :lol:

I've got a few in my KJ :wink:

,along with a tensioner,upper/lower radiator hoses,hose clamps,radiator cap,U-joints,U-joint straps and bolts,and extra fluids.

You left out extra tranny, engin, gas tank....HaHa
It is always a good thing to cary extra stuff with you. I try to keep simple stuff that will make you stranded in the middle of no place....and yea, you are out of cell range too

oddball · **Posted:** Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:27 pm

Jeep Dawg wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

ChiroKJ wrote:

just an thought: when you replace the old belt keep it somewhere in your jeep. In case the new one ever breaks on you in the middle of nowhere you will have a backup :lol:

I've got a few in my KJ :wink:

,along with a tensioner,upper/lower radiator hoses,hose clamps,radiator cap,U-joints,U-joint straps and bolts,and extra fluids.

You left out extra tranny, engin, gas tank....HaHa
It is always a good thing to cary extra stuff with you. I try to keep simple stuff that will make you stranded in the middle of no place....and yea, you are out of cell range too

Yeah I've always been a firm believer in this too. Matter of fact a couple of weeks ago while shopping (thru the family friend previous mentioned) I bought 2 belts, a spare tensioner & idler pully, upper & lower hoses, spare various bulbs (Wagner 10 pack boxes), and a Stant cap with pressure release handle (I immediately installed the latter and kept the OEM cap just in case).

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:49 am

I've got 119k on the factory belt and it looks great. I'm going to replace it, I just have a hard time replacing a belt that looks fine....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....at least that's what I tell myself. I'll probably just keep the new belt and tensioner in the Jeep so if it does break, I'm not up a creek.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 11:57 am

tjkoen01 wrote:

I've got 119k on the factory belt and it looks great. I'm going to replace it, I just have a hard time replacing a belt that looks fine....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....at least that's what I tell myself. I'll probably just keep the new belt and tensioner in the Jeep so if it does break, I'm not up a creek.

With 119K on the current belt it would be better to replace with the new belt and tensioner, then throw the old ones in the back. Even though it may pass a visual inspection I'd opt to have fresh parts on there

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:31 pm

tjkoen01 wrote:

I've got 119k on the factory belt and it looks great. I'm going to replace it, I just have a hard time replacing a belt that looks fine....if it ain't broke, don't fix it.....at least that's what I tell myself. I'll probably just keep the new belt and tensioner in the Jeep so if it does break, I'm not up a creek.

Just because it looks okay does not mean it's not stretched past the limit the tensioner can keep proper tension on it.Always replace the serp belt and tensioner at the same time,they both are wear items.

JeepinJarhead03 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:35 pm

plus our tensioners don't seem to last 100k either usually by then they're makin plenty racket

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:41 pm

JeepinJarhead03 wrote:

plus our tensioners don't seem to last 100k either usually by then they're makin plenty racket

Yep I went through 3 OEM tensioner in under 20,000 miles,opted for the Dayco one that was great for over 40,000miles,now I have a GoodYear Gaterback one installed.

Drive Belt??

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