For most cars, it’s recommended that you get the serpentine belt inspected once your car reaches 60K miles, explains AutoZone. It’s also important to perform visual and audible inspections for wear and tear before that milestone. And because every car is different, your vehicle’s owner’s manual should have the proper service intervals to get it checked.

How often does the serpentine belt need to be replaced?

By the time most cars reach 90K miles, it’s recommended to replace the serpentine belt (regardless of the appearance) to reduce the chances of it breaking, explains AutoZone. A broken serpentine belt can be dangerous while driving and could cause serious damage to your engine. Again, since every car is different, it’s recommended you check your specific vehicle’s owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation around replacing the serpentine belt.

Bad serpentine belt symptoms

You should become familiar with the following six symptoms that may show signs that your serpentine belt is beginning to fail and may need replacement, according to The Car Care Council:

Squeaking, squealing or chirping sound from under the hood of the car
Check engine light or battery light is illuminated on your dashboard
A/C isn’t working
Power steering isn’t working
The engine’s temperature is high or overheating
Smell of burnt rubber

Additionally, if you do a visual inspection of the serpentine belt when the car is turned off, you can look for these signs of wear, according to Consumer Reports:

Cracks, splits or fraying
Signs of glazing on the belt’s sides
Separating layers or missing chunks of grooves when you twist the belt

If you see any oil or coolant saturation on the belt, Firestone notes that this means it's time to replace the belt and fix those leaks.