BMR Napa AutoCare explains how a worn serpentine belt in your vehicle could result in a bad day on the road

From your friends at BMR Napa AutoCare

All of us have those days when we’ve got a bunch of errands to run around in our communities of Roseville, Rocklin, Citrus Heights and Elverta. Suppose on your day off you need to get gas, pick up some groceries, swing by your bank and get the kids from school. Now you could make four trips, but that would be a waste of time and money – totally inefficient. Instead you get organized and hit the bank first and get some gas next. Then you go to your area supermarket and pick up the kids on the way home. Way better use of your time.

Now you may wonder what this has to do with your car, truck or SUV. Well, back in the day, each of your engine’s accessories, like the alternator and air conditioner, were powered by separate belts. A vehicle might have 5 or 6 belts. These days, vehicles have a single belt to run all the accessories. It’s called the serpentine belt because it snakes around everything, efficiently connecting the accessories – like bundling your errands.

A pulley attached to the vehicles engine’s crank provides the power to turn the serpentine belt. The belt may provide the power for the power steering pump, which makes it easier to steer your vehicle. Next comes the alternator which generates electricity to run the vehicle’s electrical system and charge the battery. On to the air conditioning compressor. This helps make cold air to keep you comfortable all summer long when the temperature rises to triple digits here in Roseville and Antelope.

On some vehicles the water pump, radiator fan or the power brakes are also run by the serpentine belt. Some even have two serpentine belts. No matter how your engine is arranged, you aren’t going far without a serpentine belt. Your automobile manufacturer has a recommended interval for inspecting your belt and you’re here at our BMR Napa AutoCare locations, one of our ASE Certified technicians can inspect it for damage or wear, preventing that unpleasant breakdown that can not only put a damper on your day’s schedule but can cause additional damage to your vehicle.

Finally, there is the belt tensioner. Its job is to apply pressure on the belt to keep it tight. Several years ago, vehicle manufacturers started making serpentine belts out of a new material. It’s much more durable, but it’s harder to tell when the belt needs to be replaced. The old style belts would crack and chunks would fall off so you could easily see when you needed a new one.

On the new style belts, if the ribs wear too deep, it’s time to replace. At BMR Napa AutoCare. Our  ASE Certified technician uses a simple gauge to tell when the belt is worn and you need a serpentine belt replacement. It’s not only a broken belt that can damage your engine, a worn belt stresses your vehicle’s engine’s expensive accessories and causes them to wear prematurely.

So, change your serpentine belt and belt tensioner as recommended by your knowledgeable BMR Napa AutoCare technician to extend the life of your accessories and to prevent future breakdowns.