When it comes to moving your vehicle along, its belts and hoses are vital to keeping everything going smoothly. Overtime, the belts and hoses in your vehicle will wear out and become cracked, worn out and eventually will fail. Whether a squeaky belt is drawing concerned looks from your passengers or a busted hose has sidelined your vehicle, getting everything fixed is a top priority.
Preventing Belts & Hose Problems
While replacing a belt or hose is a simple task, the consequences of a broken part can create a much larger headache. On of the biggest dangers of a belt or hose failure is overheating. An overheated engine can lead to blown head gaskets, cylinder heads that are cracked or warped or a frozen overhead camshaft. In order to avoid these expensive problems, it’s a good idea to change your
radiator hoses and other
cooling hoses for signs of wear as a part of your regular vehicle maintenance.
Belt and hoses wear down overtime due to mileage, heat and exposure to oil. Luckily, examining them regularly can help you to diagnose and prevent belt or hose failures from leaving you stranded.
Examine belts and hoses for the following signs of wear, any part that is exhibiting signs of deteriorating should be replaced.
- Cracks, nicks or fraying
- Separating layers
- Bulging or collapsed sections
- Hardened or glassy surfaces
All of these can be a sign of a belt or hose that is close to failure. By properly maintaining your belts and hoses you can reduce the likelihood of a major break down and keep your vehicle running smoothly.
Tightening Fan Belts
The various belts on your vehicle are often referred to as your fan belts. This can include your fan drive belt, supercharger belt,
serpentine belt, accessory drive belt and/or your distributor belt. Because abrasion and wear is the most common culprit for
fan belt failure, keeping them tight and in good condition is an important part of making them last for as long as possible. Belts that are too loose often make the problem known by producing an obnoxious squealing noise, but just because your belts aren’t howling doesn’t mean they’re correctly tightened. Here are some simple tips for tightening up your fan or accessory belt.
First, check your owner’s manual for specific information about your vehicles fan belt.
- You will need a wrench, screwdriver, strong scissors and a cloth
- Secure the belt (placing a screwdriver between the holes of the pulley but not against the belt is a good way to do this) and remove the nut with a wrench.
- Remove excess dirt and debris from the belt and assembly with your cloth
- Inspect the belt for signs of wear and tear, if you find any you may need a new belt
- Be careful not to over-tighten the belt, doing so can cause stress and lead to failure
- If a new belt begins to squeal a few days after installation in may have stretched a little and will simply need to be tightened up.
Common Belt & Hose Parts
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