Seat belts are a very important part of your car – they keep you and your family safe and secure in the event of an accident. But seat belts aren’t the only vital belts that you’ll find in your car. If you pop the hood, you’ll see a couple other very important belts that keep your car running smoothly.
Timing Belt
The timing belt is a rubber belt with notches in it that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. In other words, the timing belt helps your car run smoothly by keeping the top half of the engine synced with the bottom half. If your timing belt broke, it could cause serious damage to your car’s engine, as Jalopnik points out. Most cars manufactured before the ‘90s have the classic rubber timing belt – and some new models do, too – but many car manufacturers have switched to metal timing chains that serve the same purpose as the classic timing belt, but with a sturdier construction.
Serpentine Belts
Serpentine belts, also known as drive belts, provide power to important parts of your car’s engine, like the compressor, power steering pump and cooling fan. If you’ve ever been driving a car when the power steering is malfunctioning, you know how important the serpentine belt is. Not to mention the compressor – if the serpentine belt broke, your car’s compressor would not be able to power the air conditioning system or pump coolant to the radiator, which could result in your car overheating.
Hoses
Your engine is also filled with all kinds of hoses, like coolant hoses and heater hoses. Some cars even have bypass hoses. These hoses basically transfer things from one side of your engine to another – whether it’s coolant or heat – that help keep the engine running smoothly. Small cracks in hoses after many years of wear can cause your car’s engine to overheat.
Generally speaking, your car’s belts and hoses should be inspected regularly to ensure that they’re in top working order. Many years of wear without replacement or repair can cause a serious problem for your engine. At AV Bumper to Bumper, we offer a full range of repair and maintenance services to keep your vehicle running at its best. To learn more or to schedule a service appointment, call us today at 661-949-1999.
