2003 S-10 Serpentine Belt Replacement

The Keykeeper and I replaced this belt on my truck before it broke, as it did on his...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• auto
• 2003
• Chevrolet
• S-10
• 4.3
• V6
• serpentine
• belt
• replacement

[imsuuperduuper]

why is this guy called the key keeper? is he a janitor?

[uxwbill]

@imsuuperduuper He has the keys for almost every vehicle we own. And...since some people ask about our relation, we're brothers.

[blazinloud]

you do the idler pulley last

[uxwbill]

@Matthew55904 No need to go to that kind of trouble. Make the test at the battery if you want to do so. But you don't have to, the advice I offered is there in case you need it one day... :-)

[Matthew55904]

@uxwbill cant get at the alternator to test it is at the bottom of the engine

[Matthew55904]

@uxwbill my A/C dont work never has i had a socket adaptor for the cigarette lighter to makes it 3 sockets and i had a portable drink cooler plugged in along with my phone and MP3 Player when it whirred i aint paid attention to se if it still did after i took the splitter out

[Matthew55904]

@uxwbill y would u need a 120 amp alternotor?

[uxwbill]

To find out, take a DC voltmeter out to your car. Start it up, turn on every accessory you can, including the A/C. Take a voltage reading. Compare it to what I mentioned to see what your alternator is doing. It will vary somewhat depending upon the charge in the battery and how fast the engine is turning. The general health of your charging system and battery can be inferred from the results. Your car should be able to maintain its battery with all accessories running, though it may not at idle.

[uxwbill]

Overloaded alternators tend to suffer voltage sag and eventual burnout. They might also make the belt driving them squeal. With your car running, at no point should a voltage measurement ever show anything less than 12.6. 12.6 volts isn't really charging the battery, but it indicates that the alternator is near its limits and just "keeping up". Most of the time it will be at least 13 volts, sometimes up at 14.1/14.5 or even as high as 15 if the battery needs a strong charge.

[uxwbill]

For a front wheel drive car, electric fans are the easiest way for the manufacturer to go. I don't know how Daewoo alternators stack up to others--but Delco/Delphi alternators tend to be optimistically rated. (This rang very true upon comparing the 75 amp alternator from my '84 Reliant to the 120 amp Delco from the Keykeeper's truck. The 75 amp alternator was much heavier and better made.)