+ How do I know if I need general maintenance?

Always follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended maintenance intervals. With or without obvious symptoms, most vehicles require routine maintenance services and checks. There are very obvious reasons to bring your car in for a service, for example: Check Engine Light, Service Light, or other dashboard indicator alert comes on. Or, an unusual sound or noise when operating the vehicle. Or any other driveability fault you detect should result in a general maintenance checkup.

+ How long will it take?

General Maintenance can vary from one to several hours of service.

+ What is a belt and what does it do?

In automotive terms, a belt is a loop of strong, but still flexible material that transmits motion from one rotating component to another. The component that supplies the power to turn the belt is the crankshaft, and the belt attaches to a pulley on the end of the crankshaft, on the front or side of the engine. The other end of the belt can attach to one or many other components to provide rotational power, such as an air conditioning compressor, alternator, power steering pump, water pump, as well as suspension fluid or air pumps on some higher end vehicles.

Belts are made out of rubber, and usually reinforced with steel braids in the backing material. In regards to timing belts, they are of similar construction, but usually have a cogged working surface, and attach to the crankshaft and the camshaft(s) in order to make the cams rotate. Having a cogged working surface allows the belt to remain in the same orientation at all times, which keeps the crankshaft and camshaft(s) “in time” as they are turning.

+ Why is this important?

Belts are essential in providing power to components and accessories on vehicles. Some modern vehicles are starting to incorporate electric components that are no longer belt driven, but most vehicles still require belts to operate their core accessories.

+ What can go wrong?

The rubber on belts can break down over time, and the working surface can begin to crack and break. Similar to how tires breakdown over time because the rubber dries out and begins to crack, belts experience the same type of breakdown.

Belts are also sometimes contaminated during service work, and are especially susceptible to automotive fluids. When exposed to fluids during service work, they can begin to squeak immediately.

Less often on modern vehicles, but if a vehicle has the belt tension manually set, or if an automatic belt tensioner malfunctions, a belt can break or be thrown off its track because it is too tight, or too loose.

+ How do I know when it needs work?

Belts are routinely inspected by a technician when a vehicle is being serviced. A technician will check the working surface for cracks or tears, and the backing surface for changes in color, separation, or other deformities.

Additionally, belts can start to make noise when something is wrong with them - any loud squealing noise should be inspected by a technician as soon as possible.