You might be driving your car happily down the road, thinking about reaching home,
and spending some time with the family. Suddenly, your car breaks down, and you don’t
manage to figure out what’s wrong. You try to call car service in Dubai, but they do not
arrive. Surprisingly, once you open the hood, everything looks all right. However, you
forgot to take a good look at your serpentine or engine belt that might have caused the
breakdown. How do you know if your engine belt is faulty or problematic without going
to a car repair in Dubai? Let’s find out.
What is an Engine Belt?
The engine belt, also known as the serpentine belt, or the drive belt is responsible for
connecting the AC, alternator, power steering, and other important components to the
crankshaft. The crankshaft is actually a part of the engine and provides a quota of power
to the alternator. In some models of cars, the crankshaft can also provide energy to the
water pumps as well.
It is powered by a car’s engine to spin or “drive” several mechanical components in the
engine, and is responsible for providing power to vital systems, such as the electrical
system, the power steering system, the cooling system and the A/C system. Some
vehicles’ water pumps, radiator fans, and power brakes are also dependent on the
serpentine belt.
As time passes by, the belt will develop wear and tear that will potentially harm your car.
This deterioration of the belt’s condition happens due to the heat from the engine.
Eventually, the belt will break, making it difficult to steer the vehicle. Also, if yours is a
vehicle that also has its water pump handled by the crankshaft, breakage of the engine
belt can cause the engine to overheat, which can also end up causing a breakdown to
your car.
How do I maintain my Engine Belt?
- Know where the belt is located- For most cars, the serpentine belt will be located
at the front of the engine. Never, ever check the belt when your car is hot. Always
make sure that your car is switched off and cool. - Inspect your belt during each oil change- Although the car experts will take a
look to make sure that the belt hasn’t suffered any significant damage, you can
also take a look at it yourself. - Know the important rule of thumb- If you happen to notice more than three
cracks on a belt with a width of one inch, it is an indication for you to change the
belt. - Belts last long- The engine belts usually last long from 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
They only need to be changed once they are getting old or have sustained
damage.
How do I know if I have a Faulty Engine Belt?
These are some symptoms to know if your drive belt is working fine or not.
- Listen for squealing noises- If you happen to hear any noises while you are
driving, it is possible that it is coming from the front of your car. This could be
due to a slippage or misalignment. Just keep in mind that you will not be able to
do anything about it until and unless you take your car to a mechanic. - An AC and power steering that does not work- If the engine belt completely fails
and breaks, it means that your car will break down. The power steering and the
AC will stop functioning properly. The engine will not cool down like it is
supposed to. Losing control over the power steering while driving can cause
serious accidents. The only way to make sure that this does not happen is by
taking preventive measures. - Cracks and wear on the belt- From time to time, it is a really good idea to check
your belt for cracks, chunks missing, abrasion, etc. If you do happen to notice any
of these, it means that it is time to change your belt. - Engine overheating- Like mentioned before, the serpentine belt helps the engine
to cool off after a long drive. So, if you are driving around with a faulty drive belt,
it will overheat the engine as it does not get a chance to cool down, and can end
up causing a breakdown. - It causes damage- If a serpentine belt breaks, it can cause a lot of damage. When
the belt breaks, a huge chunk of rubber that was previously spinning at a speed
of 1000 RPM breaks loose. This chunk can go hit anywhere in the engine and
break the inner fender liner, put holes in radiators, and break wiring harnesses.
If it is time for you to change your engine belt due to a squealing noise, cracks, or
problems with the engine, Carcility is here to help you. With pick-up and drop-off, and
experts who’ll take real good care of your care, you don’t have to worry about your car
when you are handing it over to Carcility for a service.