Many Dodge trucks have utilized the Cummins belt routing for 6.7 diesel engines. The 6.7 uses a serpentine drive belt to power the engine accessories to transmit torque from the crankshaft to them. The single belt snakes its way around some pulleys, thus the name.
When establishing the precise belt routing for the 6.7, several variables like model, year, and options come into play, so make sure you follow the particular routing diagram on the Dodge’s fan shroud. A 6.7 Cummins belt routing may be installed on the engine by anybody with excellent mechanical repair abilities.
Unless you’re a technician, your car comprises several complicated components, such as the serpentine belt, that are tough to comprehend. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with all you need to understand about your car’s serpentine belt, which maintains all of your car’s systems running smoothly.
Table of Contents
What Is A Serpentine Belt?
An accessory belt is another word for a serpentine belt. It’s a crucial engine component, the central engine belt, which is visible when you open the hood of your car. Because of its distinct ridges, this belt may readily be recognized or identified. The ridges’ primary purpose is to keep the auxiliary pulley from spinning or twisting while maintaining grip.
When it comes to engine accessories, a serpentine belt is a driving force. It is incorrect to assume or think that the engine’s accessories are powered only by the battery, as many people may have believed or felt at the time.
The serpentine belt guarantees that the spinning motion produced by the crankshafts is transmitted to the auxiliary pulleys one after another whenever your vehicle’s engine is running. Simply said, this is how engine accessories receive the power they need to work. Furthermore, the serpentine belt is essential for generating the supercharger whenever you drive a supercharged car.
The 6.7 Cummins Serpentine Belt:
The serpentine belt of a 6.7L Cummins is responsible for powering a variety of different components. We demonstrate the various pulleys around which the serpentine belt is wrapped, including the following:
- Idler Pulley
- P/S Pulley
- Accessory Belt Drive
- Crankshaft Pulley
- Radiator Fan Pulley
- Accessory Drive Belt Tensioner
- A/C Compression Pulley
- Generator
Problems With The Serpentine Belt:
A serpentine belt is built to endure for a lengthy period. The heat and friction will ultimately wear it down to the point when it will need to be replaced. Here are several indications that your serpentine belt is failing:
Squealing noises
It’s possible that the serpentine belt may chirp or scream if it begins to slide. This sound indicates that the belt is stretched, the belt tension is low, or the pulley and belt are not correctly aligned. If you hear these noises, call your nearest Service store to arrange an inspection before additional problems arise.
Component Failure
The failure of serpentine belt-connected components may be caused by belt issues instead of the element itself in certain instances. Power steering with air conditioning systems is two of the most frequent problems caused by serpentine belt deterioration. It’s a good idea to inspect the belt first if you lose the power steering or the AC’s output is decreased. These components may operate poorly or fail due to faulty belts.
Read more about the best cold air intakes for 6.7 cummins.
Power Steering Failure
When the serpentine belt fails, it has the potential to impair the operation of the steering system. It is important to note that the serpentine belt ensures that the power steering system operates at peak performance.
Because of a broken serpentine belt, this becomes difficult to drive your car smoothly after the power steering’s functioning has been compromised. Due to the necessity to exert significant force to turn the wheel at this stage, you may start to experience arm discomfort.
Wear and Cracks
A serpentine belt replacement should be considered as soon as you detect any fractures in it. For the most part, cars have a serpentine belt that is readily accessible. By opening your vehicle’s hood and inspecting the belt, you may determine whether or not it is broken or needs to be repaired or replaced.
Serpentine Belt Complete Breakdown
If your serpentine belt fails, it will cause the failure of several other components, as shown in the previous picture. It effectively makes your vehicle undrivable. That means you’ll need to contact roadside assistance or change the belt yourself if you have one on hand.
The trouble with the serpentine belt may often cause the check engine light to illuminate. If you use a tuner, you may also get a DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Codes) error message indicating that the belt is faulty.
What are the Benefits of Serpentine Belt Replacement?
Driving with such a worn belt has a domino effect, requiring additional money to replace other components. At the first indication of wear or other problems, you must replace the belt. Allowing the belt to break during the haul is not a good idea. Replacing your belt regularly is the ideal choice since it is safer and, in the end, results in superior overall performance. Consider the price of a typical belt, which ranges from $100 to $170.
Aside from the belt, you must think about the belt tensioner, which is a component that ensures your belt is functioning as it should. As a result, make sure your belt tensioner is working correctly, or you’ll need a 6.7 Cummins belt tensioner replacement. Remember that a belt tensioner that isn’t working properly will result in a belt that is damaged. Tensioners are usually between $100 and $120.
How Long Does A Serpentine Belt Last?
A serpentine belt’s primary component is rubber. Although science and mechanical systems have progressed through time to produce longer-lasting, more robust rubber, serpentine belts are still classified maintenance items that must be changed regularly.
The serpentine belt gradually wears down due to exposure to ambient and climatic conditions, high under-hood heat, and pollution from oil and coolant. Serpentine belts are expected to last between 60,000 and 100,000 miles on average, depending on use.
However, if you only drive your car for a few thousand miles each year, don’t rely on the mileage interval to determine when the serpentine belt needs to be replaced. The serpentine belt is exposed to the environment even when it is not in use and it deteriorates. Replace the belt after four to six years in cars that are traveled less than 10,000 miles yearly.
How To Change Serpentine Belt 6.7 Cummins
Step 1:
Manually open the hood of the Dodge. By hand, wrap the serpentine belt all-around 6.7’s crankshaft pulley’s bottom half.
Step 2:
Follow the belt routing diagram to determine the belt’s sequence and route up and around each engine accessory pulley. Last but not least, install the serpentine belt tensioner pulley. The belt may be routed in various ways, but only one is correct; incorrect belt routing can result in severe engine damage and human harm.
Step 3:
On the 5.9L Cummins engine, attach the serpentine belt tools to the front of the serpentine belt tensioner. Also, with the serpentine belt tool, rotate the tensioner clockwise to get it out of the way of the belt.
Step 4:
Slip the belt from the over belt tensioner pulley with your free hand, and then gently rotate the serpentine belt pulley back into its original position.
Disconnect the serpentine belt tensioner tool from the 5.9L by hand. The Dodge’s hood should be closed.
Conclusion
As serpentine belts age, they may lose their hold and begin to scream. In addition, the belt may become misaligned, resulting in additional wear and strain. Once in a while, all of the screaming and chirping may come to an abrupt halt when the belt breaks apart, leaving you stuck without a means to power the engine’s critical accessories.
This article has covered all of the information you need to know about replacing a serpentine belt on a 6.7 Cummins engine. Make sure you follow the instructions on how to detect complex belt problems and how to repair them. Replace this component as soon as feasible to prevent incurring high costs due to potential damage to other costly engine components.
