Everything you should know about your car's serpentine belt

Do you think you have a good grasp of what's going on under the hood of your car? Not many drivers do, but that's OK; that's why we have our Orlando auto service experts at the ready to help you get the answers you need when something is going on. However, we also believe that having some basic knowledge of how things work when it comes to your car can help you feel more comfortable and make more knowledgeable decisions. That's why we're here to give you the ins and outs of the serpentine belt - find out what it does, why it's crucial to performance, what happens if it breaks, and how to troubleshoot it like a pro. 

What is the serpentine belt? 

The serpentine belt is pretty much what it sounds like - it's a long, winding belt that sends power to accessories in the engine bay, including the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and air conditioning. However, cars haven't always had this belt. Believe it or not, these parts used to have their own individual belts, but this turned out to be extremely inefficient - the belts wore differently and had to be replaced at different times, which meant a lot more maintenance than was necessary. Luckily, the serpentine belt removed the need for all of these individual belts. 

Obviously, if it breaks you're going to have issues. Not only will it not be able to deliver power to key components of performance (like the alternator - if it's not working, you won't be able to even start your car), when the belt actually breaks, it can damage other parts inside the engine and cause a need for a lot of costly and time-consuming repairs. Luckily, it doesn't wear out too quickly - usually, you won't need to replace it more often than every 60,000 - 100,000 miles as it's made of super thick and durable rubber. And to make things easy, our Orlando auto service techs can inspect your serpentine belt with a quick visual check every time you visit our Toyota Service Center. 

Signs you need to schedule Orlando auto repairs for this essential part 

However, you should be able to troubleshoot your car's serpentine belt so you know when it's time to schedule Orlando auto repairs or a replacement. Check out these surefire signs you need to pay us a visit: 

• You hear chirping or squeaking noises from under the hood - this is caused by the belt slipping due to wear and tear, a stretched-out belt, a broken pulley, or a leak inside of the engine. 
• You're having issues with your alternator and getting your car started. 
• Your power steering goes out. 
• You experience problems with your car's air conditioning or water pump. 
• You can actually see cracks or tears in the belt, or chunks of rubber start to flake off 
• The belt has a glazed or shiny look to it 

Have questions or think you may need a serpentine belt replacement? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001, and we're conveniently located at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.