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<FONT
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Cracked Serpentine Belt</FONT></TD>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#e3e3ff rowSpan=3><FONT
face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2>All current GM vehicles designed and
manufactured in North America were assembled with serpentine belts made with an
EPDM material and should last the life of the vehicle <FONT color=#ff0000>(fig.
12)</FONT>. It is extremely rare to observe any cracks in EPDM belts and it is
not expected they will require maintenance before 10 years or 150,000 miles
(240,000 km) of use.
Older style belts, which were manufactured with a
chloroprene compound, may exhibit cracks depending on age. However, the onset of
cracking typically signals that the belt is only about half-way through its
usable life.
A good rule of thumb for chloroprene-based belts is that if
cracks are observed 1/8-inch (3 mm) apart, all around the belt, the belt may be
reaching the end of its serviceable life and should be considered a candidate
for changing. Small cracks spaced at greater intervals should not be considered
as indicative that the belt needs changing.
<FONT
color=#ff0000>TIP:</FONT> Any belt that exhibits chunking should
be replaced.</FONT><FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"
size=1>
<FONT color=#999999>
- Thanks to Jay
Dankovich</FONT></FONT></TD></TR>
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