There’s a lot more to that working engine that moves your vehicle. There are several other car components that act in tandem to move your vehicle ahead. One such vehicle component is the drive belt. This is a critical but underappreciated vehicle component that, if damaged, can bring your vehicle to a halt. Because of their relevance to your vehicle’s performance, you must be able to spot faulty drive belt symptoms.
The drive belt is a long, twisted belt that connects numerous accessories to an engine’s primary driving pulley. The engine turns this pulley, thus when you start your vehicle, the crankshaft spins, which turns the pulley. As the pulley spins, the drive belt moves, powering the vehicle’s accessories such as the power steering pump, radiator fan, alternator, and air conditioning compressor, to name a few.
The drive belt can be seen from the outside of the engine block and is easy to find. A black, ribbed, snake-like belt runs around the outside of the engine block. If the engine is running, it coils around other car components and spins eternally.
This can be tensioned manually or automatically. However, you’re more likely to find an engine with an automatically tensioned drive belt if you drive a modern car. The automatic tensioner always maintains proper drive belt tension by providing the necessary amount of tension to the belt. If the tension is incorrect, the drive belt is more likely to slide and disengage from the pulley. You don’t want this to happen because if the belt’s key components fail, the engine will shut down.
We strongly recommend leaving the drive belt replacement to the professionals, contact us to book an appointment with our experienced team of specialist HGS mechanics.
Although a standard drive belt is designed to last, the material used in its construction dictates how long it will last. Rubber belts made of Neoprene and Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer are available. Rubber belts made of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer are designed to last twice as long as Neoprene belts. You’ll need to replace your drive belt at some time, regardless of the material.
For a variety of reasons, you may need to replace your drive belt. It’s possible that the belt is misaligned on its pulley, that it’s contaminated with fluid, or that it’s just worn out from regular use. Drive belts almost always give you advance warning when they are about to fail, regardless of the cause. Detecting and responding swiftly to indications such as a squeaky drive belt or a noisy power steering system can save you a lot of vehicle problems. To avoid further engine component damage, contact us to book an appointment at the first symptom or noise of a faulty drive belt.
Symptoms of a Faulty Drive Belt
A defective drive belt could cause serious harm to your vehicle. So, what happens if the drive belt of a vehicle snaps? Quite a few things. Here are some of the most common indicators of a deteriorating drive belt that you should be aware of and treat right away:
Whining Sound
If you hear a whining sound that gets louder and quieter as the engine accelerates up and down, it’s possible that the drive belt is broken. When the belt is pulled too tight, the bearings of the belt-connected pulleys may get overloaded. The whining sound is caused by an overworked auxiliary pulley. Even if it’s only one drive belt noise, it’s a warning that something is wrong with your drive belt.
Squealing Noises
Hearing noises towards the front of your car are one of the most evident signs of a broken drive belt. This is usually an indication that your drive belt is slipping and should be tightened. It could also happen after the underbelly of the vehicle has been cleaned. The shrieking typically stops after a while. Continuous screeching sounds in the engine compartment, on the other hand, could indicate a damaged belt. In this example, the loud screeching sound is especially noticeable as the car ascends an elevation. One of the more difficult-to-ignore symptoms of a faulty drive belt tensioner is this.
Problems with steering
If your vehicle has Variable Assist Power Steering, the drive belt controls the power steering system’s operation. The drive belt oversees supplying enough power to the power steering pump for it to function properly. Without power steering, manoeuvring your vehicle smoothly is difficult. You must first fight with the steering wheel before you can control the car.
No Air Conditioning
Because the AC compressor is powered by the drive belt, your vehicle’s air conditioning will be affected if the drive belt fails. That isn’t to say that if the air conditioner is turned on, but the air vents aren’t blowing cold air, it’s because of a broken drive belt. If you find yourself in this situation, examining your drive belt is a smart place to start.
An overheating engine
This is cooled by the water pump. Because the drive belt also operates the water pump, an overheating engine is another sign to be wary of. The water pump loses power when the drive belt breaks, and it is unable to pump the water needed to cool the engine. If the engine continues to run without a working water pump, it will overheat and eventually fail.
Drive Belt Damage
A damaged drive belt is one of the visual symptoms that something is wrong with your drive belt. Any damage to the drive belt necessitates its replacement. Drive belts are strong, and they’re built to last for a long time. After a while, the wear and tear of jogging for so long begin to appear on the belt. A drive belt’s wear and tear are what causes it to break. This is seen by cracked, damaged ribs, abrasions, and rib wear on the belt. As a result, physically inspecting your vehicle’s drive belt is an excellent way to tell if it’s about to fail.
Poor Vehicle Performance
Poor vehicle performance could indicate a problem with your vehicle’s drive belt, resulting in power loss. An overheating engine, a broken air conditioner, or a loss of power steering are all indicators that your driving experience is suffering. If you have a mix of problems, such as rough idle, flickering lights while starting the engine, dimmed headlights, and trouble starting the car, you should inspect the drive belt (which usually indicates alternator problems). So, if you’ve been wondering whether a damaged drive belt might cause a rough idle, you’ve arrived at the perfect place. Yes, you’re right.
If you are concerned you may have a defective drive belt, waste no time, and contact us as soon as soon as possible to prevent risking potentially expensive damage to your vehicle.
If you would like us to look and provide a quotation for replacement if needed, please contact us we will be happy to provide advice and priority assistance.
Call us: 01329 235673
