Back to all

Serpentine Belt Service at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City in Grove City

December 28, 2016

If you've ever heard a squealing sound under your vehicle hood, chances are it was your serpentine belt. More importantly, the belt powers the alternator. The alternator creates electricity that's used by your vehicle's electrical systems and also charges the battery. Without the alternator, the battery will go dead after a short distance.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering (some are electric) and power brakes (some use vacuum boost).

And, on most vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within optimal operating temperatures. On some Grove City vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.

When they understand what it does, Grove City drivers realize that if it breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That's why vehicle manufacturers outline recommended replacement guidelines in the owner’s manuals. If this important maintenance component is not included in your owner’s manual, come see us at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City.

At Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City in Grove City, your professional technician can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon. If the belt has more than three or four cracks every inch or couple of centimeters, has deep cracks that penetrate half the depth of the belt, is frayed, is missing pieces or has a shiny, glazed look, it needs to be replaced regardless of age or mileage.

If it has lost a significant amount of thickness, it also needs to be replaced. Talk to your service advisor at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City. There's a special spring-loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley. Its job is to make sure there's a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn't slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. At Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

As mentioned, a squealing sound could alert you that the serpentine belt needs to be replaced. It may be loose if you hear a slow, slapping sound when idling your vehicle.

All in all, the serpentine belt is very important to the operation of your vehicle. And it's not that expensive to replace at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City – so it's good to do so before it fails.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City
2131 Stringtown Road
Grove City, Ohio 43123
614-871-4020
http://www.tuffygrovecity.com

More articles from Tuffy Grove City

How Does Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City Know What to Recommend?

March 24, 2024

When you drop your vehicle off at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City in Grove City, they don't just poke around under your hood looking for stuff to do. Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Grove City professionals have lists and procedures they follow for different types of service. First o... More

Grove City Air Conditioning Service

March 17, 2024

Working up a sweat is a great thing to do in a gym around Grove City, but not in your vehicle. When Grove City residents' vehicle AC Systems have a problem, they'll often feel it right away. The question is, how long do you put up with it? You know, the old comfort versus cost dilemma. But a more... More

Stopping "Brake" Downs (Brake Pad Replacement)

March 10, 2024

If someone tells you to put the brakes on something, you know it means stop. And stopping is one of the most important safety maneuvers you can do in any vehicle. That means your brakes have to work properly. Let's face it. You stop dozens of times every time you drive. And over time, that t... More