When is a serpentine belt supposed to be replaced?

2004 Corolla is timing chain. But even tho not a belt I still advise to replace it as your maintenance schedule states.

Don't worry but do make plans to have replacements put on. Better to plan a fix then to get stranded and have to fix them. IMO anyways.

Change it now, better late than sorry.

I was looking at a Corolla maintenace schedule and every 15k miles it said to inspect belts. There's no set schedule to change them. However.... I've noticed on my cars the serpentine belt can look really good on the outside and have cracks all throughout the rib areas. Belts are fairly cheap and there's usually routing diagram in the engine compartment.

We have a 2006 Corolla with 74,000 miles on it,gone thru 3 serpentine belts last one they charged me for they said I don't drive it enough.5

I had to do mine around 100,000 miles, and it definitely needed it. Here's the video of the whole process, I hope it helps you or someone else. https://youtu.be/ELh6EH32_80

I heard if you replace the belt, it makes the water pump go out. is that true? just a theory?

i replaced mine at 134K and it was working fine when taken out. I think the guy who had it replace 3x is being taken advantage of. easy fix you can do yourself too with just one tool; 19mm wrench or socket and the belt; $25.

i have my original drive belt on our 2009 Corolla XLE. I inspected it several times and I hit it with belt dressing every 50,000 miles. It now has 208,000 miles. I don't remember any cracks the last time I checked it which I thought was unusual. So I am assuming the belt dressing is really keeping it in good shape. Go Toyota!!! Go Kevlar!

At 200k you got your money's worth out of that belt. Belts break and when they do you can be stranded or even destroy an engine. Penny wise, pound foolish.

For serpentine belts you look at the belt once a month (on Sundays) to see if the belt is fraying--splitting apart from itself. Then you-the driver- have the belt replaced.

You should DEFINITELY have the serpentine belt replaced if it shows signs of being worn! However, a timing chain unlike a timing belt should not need replacing unless you're experiencing issues with it! Timing belts are basically serpentine and should be replaced every 60-70,000 miles. Timing chains are steel NOT like belts. My Toyota has the original timing chain with 260,000 miles and runs great!

I changed out my serpentine belt on my 4 cyl. Toyota corolla at 225,000. It had NO cracks at all. I believe Toyota timing belts do fine up to 200,000 miles so thats when I would replace a Toyota timing belt. This only goes for Toyota so if you are driving something else get rid of it and buy a Toyota. Period.

Brett, I have a Toyota Prius which does not have a timing belt but rather it has a steel timing gear and chain set. Your timing belt advice doesn't jive with all the research I have done on timing belts(including Toyota). "Most manufacturers recommend you have your vehicle's timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles. Refer to your owner's manual to see what is recommended for your specific model." I have NEVER heard of a Toyota timing belt lasting close to 200,000 miles. Timing chains on the other hand can last longer than 200,000 miles. Thanks, Ken (former auto repair technician)of domestic and foreign vehicles)

Some confusion here between timing belt and serpentine belt. The serpentine is also known as the drive or auxiliary belt and takes power from the crank to turn the alternator, water pump and so on. My Auris has a steel timing chain which should be good for 100k miles. The separate rubber (or composite) drive belt needs examining at every oil change. They're only £25 so better safe than sorry.