How to Check a Drive Belt
If car owners notice that there is a squeal underneath the hood of the vehicle, there is a high chance that the drive belt is either loose of damaged. This belt powers the air conditioning, water pump, power steering, power brakes, alternator and other vehicle appliances. There are some vehicles that operate using one long serpentine belt and there are others that operate on a system that is two-belted. Irregardless of the type of drive belt that a vehicle uses whether a one or two system, the belt may break, even if its lifespan is 50,000 miles, which will then result in some systems failing to operate. The belts should be checked regularly to establish if the appliance is torn, frayed, brittle or worn, irregardless of how old the belt is.
There are several ways in which the belt can be checked and changed if necessary. The first step involves checking the belt when the engine has been turned off. If the entire belt length cannot be seen at once, the ignition may need to be bumped a few times so that the engine can turn sufficiently enough for all the belt’s sections to be inspected. The entire length of the belt outside should be checked to establish if there are any tears or cracks on the surface. After doing this, a section of the belt should be turned out towards the individual inspecting the belt, with the fingers, so that the underside can be viewed. This side is supposed to be supple and flexible when felt. If there is a shinny and hard surface, this then means that the belt is brittle and old. If the belt is old or brittle, the belt calls for replacement even when there are no other signs of wear and tear.
The whole inner surface is then checked carefully with every section being scrutinized one at a time. Many belts have treads that are across the belts underside. This helps in gripping the pulleys. If there are frayed spots, tears, cracks or places that the tread is broken off or worn, the belt could be showing signs of failing or slipping, meaning that it needs replacement. When going for an oil change in service centers, the state of the belt should also be checked.
If a car service centre is not equipped in replacing or changing car drive belts, it should not be relied on entirely as a problem might be overlooked. Many centers may point out the obvious worn out components as a service to the customer, but on routine inspection as a regular scheduled service, they rarely perform to the expected standards. There is no need to hire a mechanic to check the belt, because it is easy to follow the above procedures. The belt can easily be removed for changing by simply releasing the tension and then slipping the old belt from the pulleys. The removal method depends on the bracket types and hardware that holds the accessory in place. Checking a drive belt is a mandatory requirement for car owners to avoid preventable accidents.
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