Car Belt and Hoses

Did you know sooner or later your vehicle's engine accessory drive belts and coolant hoses will dry out and crack? Over time, belts and hoses lose their ability to properly expand and contract.

And that's not good. One sudden malfunction of these relatively inexpensive but very important parts can have costly consequences.

So, stop by Asianautoworks and we can help you avoid this kind of breakdown. In addition to oil changes, we also provide a range of preventive car maintenance services, including belt and hose replacement.

Our experienced mechanics can detect many potential belt and hose problems with a simple visual inspection. Regular inspections, coupled with timely belt and hose replacement in accordance with your vehicle manufacturer's recommendations, will help protect against expensive repairs.

A series of belts and pulleys drive engine accessories such as the alternator, water pump, fan, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor and air injection pump. Hoses and steel lines transfer coolant, brake fluid and fuel throughout the vehicle. Over time, these parts may crack, rust or leak. So, protect yourself by following the factory maintenance schedule.

At Asianautoworks, we follow the manufacturers’ service guidelines for maintenance services, including belt and hose replacement. Our shops have access to factory maintenance schedules for most makes and models on the road. So, when you visit, we’ll ask us to provide your car’s schedule and print it out for your review.

Timing belts

These belts are toothed, reinforced belts used to drive the camshaft via a sprocket to a crankshaft. They ensure the synchronization of the engine's camshaft, crankshaft and distributor.

Signs of trouble: Engine backfires or stops

Serpentine belts

These belts transfer power from the crankshaft to all of the engine accessories. When this single belt breaks, it can cause damage to the engine through overheating, loss of the charging system or loss of power steering.

Signs of wear: Cracking, splitting, slipping and squealing

Coolant hoses

These are hoses that transfer antifreeze throughout the engine cooling system, including the radiator and the heater core.

Signs of wear: Cracking, splitting and brittle or soft spot.

BELT MAINTENANCE

Belt manufacturers say the incidence of normal V-belt failure rises sharply after three years of service, and four years with serpentine belts. Hose manufacturers say hose failures go up after four years of service. The average passenger car or light truck typically racks up 60,000 to 70,000 miles in four years, so any vehicle that is more than four years old is a potential candidate for belt and hose replacement.

But what happens if never replace your belts or hoses? Hopefully nothing because nobody can predict when a belt or hose will actually fail. But if a failure does occur, the consequences can often be far more serious and expensive than a breakdown and a tow. Overheating is the biggest danger. Depending on how hot an engine gets, the consequences may include a blown head gasket, a cracked or warped cylinder head and/or broken or frozen overhead camshaft.