How do I know which belt is messed up in my car

Hi this is Dusty, I'm one of the auto experts on RepairPal's Car Genius team. There's really no difference, just depends on how many belts a vehicle requires and the design of the accessory drive system. Typically, when we refer to a serpentine belt, it's a one belt system that connects all of the vehicle's accessories like the water pump, alternator, a/c compressor, power steering pump, etc. routed through various pulleys and an auto-adjusting belt tensioner. Some vehicles run multiple belts that are similar to a serpentine belt, and they are commonly referred to as the alternator belt, or the power steering belt etc. and typically have separate tensioning devices, usually done manually. It's likely just a naming convention that has brought a cloud of confusion with it but no worries! If you have any questions, give us a call at (877) 913-1554