Fix The Drive Belt In Your Car Before It Fails

Annoyed by the squeaky noise from your engine? Has the steering effort increased? Or is your AC not working right? If yes, then you likely have a drive belt problem that needs fixing asap. Modern engine drive belts are responsible for running more than one component. So if it fails you can expect the loss of functionality in crucial vehicle systems like power steering, air conditioning and charging systems. This loss in functionality can prove very dangerous while on the road and poses a serious safety threat. So it is important to fix the problem before it has a chance to get worse and to do so you will need to know the signs of drive belt failure. 

Before delving into the problems associated with a drive belt failure, you need to understand its importance. A drive belt, also known as a serpentine belt, accessory belt or fan belt, has the job of running the engine peripheral devices. The devices that are run by this belt include the power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, alternator and in some cases the water pump as well. The belt is connected to the crankshaft that rotates the pulleys on the devices with the engine. 

In older cars, multiple v-belts were used to run various accessories but in modern cars, a single belt called the serpentine belt runs all the accessories together. In case one of the v-belts failed, the engine would still retain some functionality until complete failure occurred. But in the case of serpentine belt, since it is a single belt controlling all the devices, its failure results in a considerable loss in vehicle performance. 

The v-belt designs used in the older vehicle have one belt that drives a single pulley. So if that particular belt failed, only the device running from it stopped functioning. But with serpentine belts, all the devices like the power steering, alternator and AC compressor run from the same belt which increases the potential for problems. If the serpentine belt in your engine fails you can expect these issues in your vehicle:

• Loss Of Battery Power: The battery is kept charged by the alternator continuously as the engine is running. If the alternator were to stop working, the battery would eventually lose its charge which would affect the vehicle performance and startup. A dead or weak battery will not allow you to start your car and you can have trouble cranking the engine over. As the serpentine belt wears, you may notice the battery light come on in the dashboard. This light may appear intermittently or stay on indicating complete or partial operation of the alternator and subsequently the drive belt. 
• Loss Of Power Steering: The power steering pump is driven by the serpentine belt. if the belt fails, you can expect the steering effort to increase dramatically making it harder to operate the steering wheel. This can be particularly dangerous at lower speeds where the steering effort is extremely high. 
• Engine Overheating: While most vehicles have a timing belt-driven water pump, some engine designs have a serpentine belt-driven water pump. In such engines, a problem with the drive belt can cause the cooling system to malfunction which can result in engine overheating. The water pump is responsible for maintaining the flow of coolant through the engine. If it stops running the engine will overheat which can further lead to more problems. To learn more about water pump failure refer here. 
• Loss Of Air Conditioning: Another symptom of drive belt problem can be seen in a barely or non-functioning air conditioning system. Since the AC compressor is driven by the serpentine belt, any fault with the belt will directly affect AC operation.

Here are few things you will likely notice if your drive belt is failing: 

• Unusual Sounds: A loud screeching or squealing sound can emanate from the engine bay indicating the serpentine belt is either unaligned, slipping, under excess tension or running over a stuck idler or tensioner pulley. Misalignment or slippage can happen due to a worn-out belt that is on the verge of breaking. It is important to replace the belt immediately to avoid more serious damage. Excess tension can occur due to an overly tight or faulty belt tensioner. As for a stuck pulley, the bearing within the pulley might have broken causing the pulley to stick. 
• Cracks, Frays And Damage On The Belt: A visual inspection can tell you a lot about the condition of the belt. Cracks on the surface or missing chunks mean the belt is severely worn and can split at any point. Fraying ends and abrasion can indicate the belt is being obstructed by another object in the engine bay which is damaging the belt. When replacing the belt also check for any loose bolts or other foreign objects sticking out and fix the issue to prevent future belt wear. Contaminated belts with oil or coolant can indicate a major issue with the engine which requires your immediate attention. 
• Failure Of Various Systems: As discussed earlier, if the drive belt fails you can notice the air conditioning system starts malfunctioning, the power steering stops working and the battery loses charge quickly which can result in hard starts and trouble cranking the engine. The cooling system may also fail causing the engine to overheat if your vehicle has a serpentine belt driven water pump. 

The drive belts are usually the outmost engine components so replacing them is possible. Drive belt replacement can be extremely easy or somewhat hard depending on the configuration of the engine and room in the engine bay to access the belt. To remove the belt you often just need a wrench or a serpentine service tool. 

• With the engine off and cool to touch you can start replacement of the belt.
• Before removing the belt make sure you take a picture of the belt routing or make a drawing so that you remember to put it in the same way. 
• Now, attach the wrench to the belt tensioning bolt and turn it clockwise to relieve tension on the belt, making it loose enough to be pulled out easily. 
• Replace the belt. Check the length of the new belt with the old one making sure they are the same length. 
• Place the new belt in the correct configuration and then retention the belt. To do so, just move the wrench holding the tensioner bolt and turn in counterclockwise. 
• Before wrapping up, you need to inspect the belt and various pulleys. The belt needs to sit flush with the pulley and all the ribs on the belt must coincide with that of the pulley. 

Q) Can I Drive My Car With a Bad Serpentine Belt?

You can drive with a broken serpentine belt but it can prove very dangerous. If the condition of the belt is very bad, it may snap during operation which can compromise power steering immediately which can be very dangerous while you are on the road. Driving for a prolonged period with a broken drive belt can cause the battery to run out of charge which will hinder vehicle functionality and even engine operation. You might also not be able to start your car. If the belt is not in extreme condition then you can drive for a short trip to safely make it to a garage. 

Q) How Long Does The Drive Belt Last?

Drive belts have a pretty good lifespan and can last about 100,00 to 150,000 km or so. With prolonged usage, the drive belt is prone to fail so inspect your belt regularly to ensure it’s in good condition. 

Q) Can I Replace The Timing Belt?

The timing belt is a very important engine component that controls the synchronization of the crankshaft and camshaft. If the timing belt is not replaced properly there can be serious consequences. Besides, the timing belt is harder to access than the drive belts and often requires partial or complete removal of the engine for replacement. This makes the task very challenging which is why you should not attempt to do this job yourself.