Is it time for a Drive belt replacement in your car? Let’s find out.
A Drive belt or Serpentine belt is a car component that is connected to almost all engine accessories including the alternator, AC compressor, power steering pump, water pump, and air pump. This belt is long, flat, and multi-ribbed and is driven by the engine’s crankshaft pulley.
This belt has a tensioner that keeps it working. Most modern cars have just one drive belt or serpentine belt that connects all these components to the engine crankshaft. However, some older cars might have an additional v-style belt that drives accessories like the power steering pump.
When is the Dive Belt Replacement Service Needed?
- Generally, the drive belt/ serpentine belt of your car should be replaced at 90.000 miles, However, it is advisable to get the belt thoroughly inspected at regular intervals during your routine car service. This will help you know about any wear and tear or damage that might have occurred.
- If you or your mechanic find the belt visibly damaged or broken during the inspection, it should be replaced.
- If your car is making a squeaking sound when you start it, this might be because the drive belt is broken and needs replacement.
- An illuminated battery warning light can also mean drive belt issues. Sometimes, a defective drive belt tensioner or a loose drive belt can cause the battery to discharge quickly and this might illuminate the battery warning light.
- In many cars, it’s the drive belt that drives the car’s water pump. And in such cases, if the belt is broken or damaged, it will cause the engine to overheat in a matter of minutes.
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Is Drive Belt Replacement Important for your Car?
What will happen if you don’t replace a broken drive belt? If your car’s serpentine belt drives the water pump, a broken drive belt would mean engine overheating, Similarly, it might result in the alternator inadequately charging the battery. This can result in a quickly discharging battery.
Effectively, a worn-out or damaged drive belt can break anytime and may result in you being stranded somewhere. So, for your safety, you should get your car’s drive belt inspected regularly and it should be immediately replaced if it’s damaged, worn-out or broken.
How is it Done?
- Firstly, the mechanic will run the engine and ensure that the idling pulley and the belt tensioner aren’t making any noise. He will also ensure that all the pulleys and accessories are running smoothly and note the routing of the drive belt.
- He will then release the belt tensioner with a wrench or lever. This removes the tension from the belt and it comes off of the pulleys
- All the connecting components like the alternator, Air conditioning compressor, water pump, etc. are checked
- If everything is working fine, the new drive belt is installed
- The engine is started again to see if everything works properly.
Wrapping up
If your car engine is making weird noises, get it thoroughly checked by an expert mechanic to determine if it’s a broken drive belt or something else. Generally, a drive belt should be replaced at 90,000 miles. However, sometimes it can be broken or worn-out long before that. So, you should hire an expert mechanic to thoroughly inspect your car and see if the drive belt needs replacement.
