In the Nick of Time: Your Car?s Serpentine Belt |
In the Nick of Time: Your Car?s Serpentine BeltUsed Engines For Nissan's Recently, my friend called me from a roadside Dairy Queen in frenzy. His dad had been driving his Ford car down the highway and heard and awful noise. First, there was a squeal and then what sounded like a whip smacking the underneath of his hood. They weren?t sure what was happening, but after investigating, found that a black rubber belt was half-eaten off its pulleys. Many people have become fascinated with motor cars and engines in the last 100 years as they have become cheaper and more available. Currently a huge...... ?Is the belt still on there?? I asked. Tips On Car Leasing ?Well, half of it is,? he continued as if the world were ending. ?My dad ripped the part that was hanging off and now only half remains!?Leasing a car isn't for everyone. If you're like me and keep your car for many, many years then leasing isn't for you. If >>>>> ?Have you driven it? How many miles are on that thing?? I questioned. ?Yeah. We drove it into the parking lot here. I think it?s got ninety thousand.? He said flabbergasted. After a couple more minutes of my friend?s ranting about his dad?s mechanical shortcomings, I took a risk and told them to slowly drive it over to my house (which was only five minutes away). This problem seems all too common with owners of modern cars. The serpentine belt, both black and cracked, which had half-shredded itself under my friend?s hood should have been replaced long before. The problem could have been prevented. Before this problem happens to you, you should be sure to check the belts when you do a regular check-up on your car. If you?re a do-it-yourself kind of person, then when you change the oil, be sure that you check the serpentine belt with each and every oil change (or if you use synthetic oil that doesn?t need changed as often, check your belt every 3,000 to 5,000 miles). The serpentine belt is so called because it looks like a snake as it curves around various drive pulleys. As stated, many modern automobiles have this sort of belt because it?s a lot easier (and less expensive) to install than older ?V? belts; plus they last about 50% longer. A serpentine belt maintains its tension via a spring-loaded pulley. The belt connects to and helps function your alternator, power steering, air conditioning and water pump. You should never break down on the side of the road due to this belt breaking from wear and tear. The problem is easily preventable. Simply check the belt for cracking, fraying or if it looks aged. However, even if the belt looks excellent, it may be time to change it. The time interval will depend upon the recommendation from the manufacturer (see your car's manual), but it?s safe to say that it should be replaced every 60,000 miles, or every two to three years. Motorcycle Bruising The Brain Do you visualize yourself with a smashed head or a cracked skull because of a dreadful >>>>> If the problem persists and you find yourself having to change the serpentine belt every few months, then it?s another issue. Most likely, there is a problem with the alignment of one of the pulleys. Many times, there could be a problem with what?s called the harmonic balancer. While this sounds nice, this part is located on the front of the crankshaft. It?s made up of an inner steel section, a rubber sleeve, and a pulley with grooves that the belt fits over. If there?s a problem with this, you?ll most definitely have to check to see if it?s in alignment with a straightedge. If you notice it?s not aligned with the other pulleys, then take the car to a professional. They may have to move the entire engine over to work on it. If you take your car to a mechanic for an oil change, ask about the serpentine belt at that time. Be sure that s/he has inspected all the belts thoroughly. If they recommend changing the belt, be sure that they use a high-quality one. It?s recommended to use the best made, and most likely, the most expensive (usually around 18 to 45 bucks). And, be sure to buy your belt from a respectable auto-parts store as different stores carry different brands and types. Ask your mechanic if they properly dispose of the belt. If it?s some person?s home business, you may want to take the belt to a professional mechanics shop and ask them if they can dispose of it properly. It?s a good idea to keep Mother Nature in tune too! Finally, ask your mechanic if s/he did a test of the belt while the car was in operation. However, if you?re doing research on a serpentine belt, you?ve already won half the battle. Why not try and change it yourself? If you got some tools and a place to work, then you might feel quite ?handy? once you see that it?s not that hard of a job! First, you?ll want to buy a new high-quality belt. ...... Go, Go, Go, With The TomTom Go Car Navigation System The TomTom Go is a rather small package which contains everything you need for automobile navigation. It's designed......... |
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