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TIRE WORLD Complete Auto Service & Repair Stores |
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Tire World's Tech Tips (13) click here to return to the list of Tech Tips Prevent Breakdowns: Inspect and Replace Belts and Hoses In earlier days, vehicles had as many as five different belts to turn their various parts. Since the early '80s, cars have been built with only one belt, called a serpentine belt. Now, when this belt breaks, you lose everything. Your engine will overheat and the battery will die. Gates Rubber Company, years ago, had a very successful "mystery shopper" program. They hired retired people to drive around the country, stopping for gas when needed. The object of the project was to get service station attendants to open your hood, check the oil and look at the belts and hoses. The mystery shopper's car would always have a bad belt. Attendants who opened the hood on their own and found the bad belt were given a plaque with 5 silver dollars in it. Unfortunately for the motoring
public, the service station that stocked parts and had a mechanic to install
them has gone the way of the outdoor movie theatre. Gas stations now charge
much more for gas but offer more food, drinks and other supplies.
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Serpentine belts are more easily affected by dirt, misalignment and damage than are hoses. Look along the belt, both inside and out, for glazing (a shiny surface), cracks, tears and missing ribs. The belt should look newer, not worn out, dry and faded. Belts should be tight and any sagging or slack in the belt means an adjustment is needed. Slack belts will be damaged and are more able to slip off any of the tracks that hold them in place, similar to a train that jumps its track. On road trips and if you do not inspect this belt regularly, it may be wise to carry a replacement that will fit your vehicle. You might not be too happy staying over in, say, Hays, Kansas waiting for the right serpentine belt to arrive. Hoses need your attention, too. Look for bulges, leaks, cracks and spongy spots. If a hose "looks like it's growing" (getting bigger), this means the inner and outer layers are separating. Check that clamps holding the hoses are in good shape, too, and not rusted, broken or missing. When you replace hoses, replace the clamps as well.
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