subject: Preventative Maintenance For Your Vehicles Belts [print this page] The best way to avoid spending excess money and time on your vehicle is with a program of preventative maintenance. You minimize expenses when small problems are prevented from becoming large ones, and you save time by keeping your vehicle on the road rather than in the shop. One of the most simple aspects of vehicle maintenance is keeping a check on the quality of your oil, and having it changed regularly. Checking your tires for wear and tear, as well as maintaining correct air pressure, is also important. Finally, make sure to keep a periodic check on the belts in your vehicle.
How to check the belts in your vehicle:
Whether the belts are visibly showing signs of wear and tear they should be changed at the sixty-thousand mile tune-up. Considering that the sixty-thousand mile tune-up includes changing the timing belt, you should not be charged for any additional labor for your mechanic to change the other belts.
To check the belts yourself, first you need to be sure the engine is not running. Both the engine and the belts themselves must be cool before you reach under the hood. The hood release can be found under the dashboard. Then simply slide your hand under the front of the hood to find the safety catch, which will need to be either squeezed or slid to open the hood.
Directly in front of the vehicle's engine you will be able to see the belts. If you have a vehicle that is a rear wheel drive then the engine is close to the front bumper and radiator. If your vehicle is a front wheel drive then the engine is close to the fender.
Check how many belts you can see.
The make and model of your vehicle will determine the number of belts you will find. These belts are generally referred to as drive belts, because they drive various pumps and engine components such as those for power steering, water, smog, fan and the alternator. There may be two belts or even more depending on your vehicle. You can test the tension of each belt by using your thumb. Press lightly in the middle of the longest part of the belt, between the pulleys that it runs over. Your owner's manual will provide you with details of how much give there should be in each belt. In most cases, pressing gently should cause the belt to give less than an inch.
If the belt is beginning to show signs that it's beginning to dry out or crack, make a note of this. You will probably notice a little bit of cracking and this is fine but there should not be chunks missing. There may be a rust color on the belt which is also normal. Many belts, especially the one for the air conditioning clutch, can rust over time due to the dust created as it operates. The dust does not do any damage. If you find obvious signs of wear, or the belt seems to have too much give, then you will need to have the belt replaced before it breaks. A screeching sound when you hit the gas is an indication that the belt is too lose. In this case, the belt will need to either be replaced or tightened. A broken belt can be a costly repair.
