Old fan or serpentine belts can be a nuisance. That is why it is crucial that you regularly check your belts to avoid problems in the future. There are different symptoms that can tell if your belt is acting fuzzy, like difficult steering. And if you know that your belt is ageing, then it is time to do an inspection to tell if it is time to change it or not. So here are the most important things that you should look for when doing the inspection.
Table of Contents
Cracking or Peeling
One of the most important things that you need to look for is any signs of cracking. You have to take the time to check each side of the belt and if you see any cracking or peeling, then that should be a red flag. It should be time to replace your belt before it breaks down and you end up stranded in the middle of the road.
Fraying
When the belt starts to get older, they will start to move out of their track. And when this happens, the sides of the belt will become more vulnerable. It can also start rubbing against the other belts or the parts of the engine block. This can cause the belt to fray on the outer edges. And if you let this go by without replacing the belt, then it will put the correas trapezoidales at risk of busting while you’re driving.
Worn Out Tread
On the underside of the belt, you can find there a tread similar to the ones you find on your tires. And over time, the tread will wear down. While doing the inspection, what you want to see is how worn the tread is. And when you notice that it’s flat and faded, then you should consider changing it soon.
Malformation
If you see any signs that the belt part has melted, dented, or it’s malformed, then it should be time to change it. You should have the thickness and texture uniformed all across the belt when you are doing your inspection.
Tension
When checking for the tautness of the belt, it shoulder you push down a bit. But remember that there should not be enough ‘give’ to make you easily slide the belt on or off the track. There should just be enough tension that will keep the belt in place so that it will not slop off the track or completely fall off.
Too lazy to check and change your belt? If you think that the whining or squealing of our belt is something that you can neglect, then you are wrong. What’s possibly the worst thing that can happen if you just keep driving with a damaged belt? Well, the first thing is that it will break. And when you just continue driving even if the belt is already broken? The car could stall if the battery or the alternator is low. And the motor could also overheat in case the car won’t stall/ and worse, you can lose the power steering when you are driving at high speeds. So make sure to give time to inspect and change your belts.
