A Worn-out Drive Belt Exhibits These 7 Signs

 Because your car's drive belt also known as the auxiliary belt powers a variety of systems, a cracked belt can result in problems. So, h ow do you recognise a won drive belt

In order for many vehicle components to operate at all, some car parts are required. One example is the drive belt.

How can you tell if anauxiliary belt is worn, though?

The most typical signs of a damaged drive belt and the location are discussed in this post. To start, let's talk about the warning signals.

The dashboard warning lights are the most common sign of a worn drive belt. Prior to your subsequent MOT testing service, replace the drive belt to avoid a possible MOT failure.  Moreover, the steering may be challenging, and the belt may screech. If there are multiple obvious cracks on the belt, it has to be replaced.

Keep in mind that your vehicle may have one or even several auxiliary belts, which may cause some systems to operate properly while others do not. If you try to seek for any symptoms of defects, keep in mind to inspect all of the belts. If you're unsure, search online for car garages in Reading and book an appointment for a mechanic to thoroughly investigate the matter.

Due to the drive belt's significance, there are a variety of symptoms you could see when it malfunctions or breaks. Here is a more thorough list of the seven signs of a damaged drive belt:

1.      Dashboard Warning Lights - The dashboard warning lights are the first thing you might notice if your auxiliary belt is cracked or totally snapped off. The drive belt drives the alternator, so chances are you'll notice the battery light. If it breaks, the warning light will come on. Other warning lights, such as a power steering or hydraulic pressure warning light, might also be visible. You may find out if your vehicle previously failed a MOT test because a warning dashboard light was triggered by searching "check my MOT history" online.

2.      Heavy steering - In the majority of vehicles, the drive belt drives the power steering pump. If your belt entirely snaps off, the power steering pump will no longer function. If it is not working, you will notice it because the steering gets extremely heavy, so heavy that it could be deadly. Because of this, you should go online, look for garages in Reading and make an appointment as soon as you can with a certified car mechanic. However, the majority of contemporary vehicles do have an electric power steering pump, therefore in this situation, you won't experience heavy steering caused by a broken drive belt.

3.      Cracked Auxiliary Belt - The most obvious sign of a faulty drive belt is that the belt begins to crack. Examining the belt will frequently allow you to see this clearly. Even if the belt is not totally worn out, some cracks may appear fairly quickly, but if the belt has many cracks, it should be replaced.

4.      Squealing Sounds - Whenever your belt is beginning to fail but has not yet ripped off, you may hear screeching sounds coming from it. This happens more frequently when the belt is under load, such as when you steer, which requires the power steering pump to operate. Switchon a variety of electronic components, such as the heating, radio and headlights to test this. The alternator will have to work harder as a result, so if you hear higher screeching sound, your belt may not be in good condition.Drive belt tensioners are often automatic in current vehicle models, but manual tensioners may be present in certain older cars, so you may need to tension the belt manually to get it right and stop squeaking or replace the drive belt along with the tensioner.

5.      AC Not Working - The drive belt also powers the air conditioning pump, so if the belt breaks, you might realise that the air conditioner in your car has entirely ceased working. In many car types, although not all of them, the AC pump frequently has its own smaller belt exclusively for the AC pump. If the AC pump's separate belt breaks, everything else may still function, but the air conditioner may not.

6.      Overheating Cooling System - The drive belt powers the water pump in several car models. This is more relevant to older car models, although many new vehicles still use a belt to run the water pump even though many car models use a timing belt or chain. However, if the auxiliary belt that drives your water pump breaks, your car's coolant won't flow, and the engine will quickly overheat. Your engine will die as a result, therefore if you notice that the temperature is rising, you should stop right away. If not, you run the risk of suffering head gasket failure or even worse.

7.      Car Won't Start - A car engine requires an alternator constantly to provide power to charge the battery. If your vehicle isn't charging, the battery will run out of energy and your car won't start. The alternator won't be able to recharge the battery if the drive belt snaps, and if you keep driving, your car's engine will finally shut off. Your car's battery light should always turn on, so stop right away and check it out.

Where is the drive belt located?

The crankshaft pulley drives the belt, hence it is situated in the front of the engine.

Keep in mind that the front of your car does not always correspond to the front of your engine. Your car can also be put sideways, in which case it will typically be placed close to the driver's side wing.