Apart from the internal metallic car components, vehicles come with rubber components that play a crucial role in ensuring that parts function smoothly and efficiently. Besides the tires, cars also feature rubber belts designed to transmit power to various car parts
, including the timing belt and serpentine belt. In this article, though, we’ll focus more on the serpentine belt and its role in a car. Read on to learn more about the serpentine belt, why it's called that, and how to know when it needs replacement.
What is a serpentine belt?
Firestone Complete Auto Care
explains that the serpentine belt transfers power to your car's vital components. It's a single long rubber belt that snakes and winds around the alternator, power steering pump, compressor air conditioner, and in some instances, the water pump. Transporting power to these critical components, the belt keeps them running smoothly, efficiently, and effectively.The serpentine belt is always in constant rotation so long as the car is running. It is part of an interconnected system that comprises pulleys and tensioners. It uses the rotational power of the system to drive other parts that run the various vehicle accessories. It's needless to say that your car will stop running if the belt fails.
It's not by chance that automakers use a single and wider serpentine belt instead of multiple thinner belts. By winding it on various components, the belt's tension increases without stretching, which reduces slip. In turn, that extends the belt's longevity and mechanical efficiency. Additionally, reduced slip allows the use of lower ratio pulleys, reducing the load on the engine while improving fuel efficiency.
How to know if your serpentine belt needs to be checked or replaced
Like other vehicle components, the serpentine belt also wears out with time. Some red flags indicate the need to have it checked or replaced. According to RXMechanic
, some signs of a failing serpentine belt include engine overheating, squealing sounds from your car's front end, visible wear or cracks on the belt, no air conditioning, and power steering failure. It's easy to tell by looking at it if your belt is old. Typically, cracks may appear across the belt's ribs, or there might be shiny spots that look glazed. Sometimes the rubber parts may start flaking off the belt. Older belts can also slip out of position, frequently becoming contaminated with fluid or misaligned. Continuous use of an old belt may cause it to snap, at which point the drive torque to all the engine accessories is lost.
Some watchful drivers may have their serpentine belts running healthily for a long time. Still, it would be best to have it replaced after a while. There's no rule of thumb when the replacement is due, as it depends on the car and the owner's driving behavior. Under ideal conditions, you should replace the belt after 90,000 – 100,000 miles.
MORE: What Is a Powertrain?
All cars come with a serpentine belt
All modern cars have an accessory belt that drives the air conditioning, alternator, compressor, and water pump. It's usually mounted externally, making it visible on the engine's front end once you open the hood. Until the early ‘70s, vehicles featured multiple V-belts to run each engine accessory mentioned above, but in 1974, the serpentine belt was invented to drive all these components.
You might be wondering why it's called the serpentine belt. Well, it's because it's one long belt that snakes around multiple engine accessories, efficiently connecting and transferring power to them. With multiple V-belts, car owners had to deal with frequent belt failures, but the serpentine belts solved that problem.
MORE: V6 vs. V8: It’s Not Just About the Power
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