Back to all

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Lewis Center Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

November 10, 2019

drive All Lewis Center service advisors know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures. (On some vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.)

So you can see the serpentine belt does a lot of work. And it if breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That's why your vehicle manufacturer and your service advisor at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Lewis Center have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn't fail.

Your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Lewis Center service advisor can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Your serpentine belt works in tandem with a 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 Lewis Center in Lewis Center, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Lewis Center
210 Hornbeam Lane
Lewis Center, Ohio 43035
740-549-3332
http://www.tuffylewiscenter.com

More articles from Tuffy Lewis Center

A Clean Sweep (Fuel Injector Cleaning)

April 27, 2025

Your vehicle gets its power from burning fuel, usually gasoline, and it counts on something called fuel injectors to send gas to the engine in a spray that is easy to ignite. Its a precise operation, and when its working well, you have plenty of power and an efficient engine. But after time, con... More

H20 No! (Driving Through Standing Water)

April 20, 2025

In a year marked by unusually heavy flooding in North America, drivers are very aware of the possibility they may find themselves driving where water has come over the road. It can be a daunting and frightening situation. Flooding waters can move quickly and unpredictably, so you have to keep y... More

Flat Tire? Three?s the Charm (Tire Repair)

April 13, 2025

For most drivers, at some point youre going to have a flat tire. Depending on how it was damaged, it may have to be replaced. But sometimes, a repair will do the trick, as long as the puncture isnt on the sidewall and the hole is smaller than inch/6.35mm in diameter. Here are the three common w... More