What is the Purpose of a Fan Belt in a Car?

There have been huge technological signs of progress within the automotive industry over the past few decades. If you think about the previous century, you would imagine cars with leather engine belts that could wear or tear off easily due to the heat.

With time, they came to be replaced by rubber belts- including the alternator belt and the fan belt. However, even today you may not be fully aware of the use of these fan belts. That is why we have compiled this guide to inform you about the ins and outs of fan belts in a car.

What are the Various Engine Belts in a Car?

There are different kinds of car belts that you need to be aware of.

1. Timing Belt: This belt is responsible to connect the crankshaft to the camshaft of the car and is responsible to synchronize the movements of both the shafts, ensuring that the valves and the pistons of the combustion engine are moving at the correct timing. It is expected to be durable for up to 10 years or until it completes 170,000 km.
2. Drive Belt: This one is mostly responsible to deliver the power to the different parts of the car surrounding your engine. This will also include the air conditioning compressor, alternator, etc. Whenever your car engine is switched on, the drive belt is starting to power all those different engine parts simultaneously.
3. Serpentine Belt or V-Belts: These are more common in the older models of cars. They usually come in forms that can pass through different pulleys to keep those in place.

Importance of a Fan Belt in Your Car

You must remember that the fan belt is an integral part of your car when talking about regular maintenance. The Engine Inspection Calgary, CA will say the same. It is a flexible belt, made up of rubber that can hold the different engine components together. It is responsible to keep the crankshaft pulley as well as the alternator attached to the cooling fan of the engine.

If you are thinking of other power components, the belts are also quite functional. As described above, they serve as an essential component for water pumps, power steering pumps, and ACs in a car.

How Do I Stop Fan Belt Squealing?

Is your fan belt squealing? No time to run to the Engine Belt Repair System Calgary, CA or the Fan Belt Repair and Replacement Calgary, CA? We have got some advice for you.

It can be quite annoying to have to drive around the roads with a squeaking fan belt for a long period. Sometimes some belts squeak for some time but the squeaking disappears soon enough.

Some possible suggestions to stop this fan belt squealing include:

• Keep a Belt Dressing nearby at all times. These are products that you can get at almost all Auto repair supply stores including Mobile Vehicle Repair System Calgary, CA or Engine Inspection Calgary, CA. They can work wonders.
• If buying the belt dressing is not an option, you can opt for a more old-fashioned way to stop the squealing. This is done by using a block of bar soap. Get yourself an ordinary bar soap and rub it on the fan belt a few times. It is quite cheap to do so and also handy to solve the problem.

In both cases, you should maintain safety by turning off the engine before you can apply the belt dressing or the bar soap to the fan belts.

How Much Does It Set You Back to Change a Car Fan Belt?

When it comes to belts in old models of cars, namely the serpentine belts, the replacement costs could go up to $200 with the belt alone costing up to $80, and the service costs going up to $120. However, when talking about fan belts that are often easier to reach, the cost can be quite less.

You can change the belts at home with the least number of tools when you can reach them easily. Some belts can easily be taken out by simply loosening one of the bolts. Others might have a belt tensioner that will require some added effort to be pulled on with a wrench, giving the belt some added slack. You can also consult the repair manuals of cars or specifically your automobile to see how you can do this on your own.

It is important, however, to ensure that you know when to replace these belts before it is too late. There is no written rule as to when this replacement is necessary but it depends highly on the car and the driving areas. You need to monitor the belts regularly or consult experts and technicians to know how and when exactly to replace them.

Some of the common warning signs of the car fan belt requiring a replacement include:

• Regular squealing noise from the front of the automobile
• The AC or the power steering components malfunctioning
• Overheating of the car’s engine
• Noticeable wear and tear on the belts

Replacing a car fan belt in time will not set you back as much as not doing it at the right time might. You need to keep a close check on the fan belts and the other components to stay alert.

Concluding remarks

You are now well aware of the main purposes of a fan belt in an automobile and how you should monitor the health of these belts. You must not delay the process of replacing the fan belts or getting rid of the squealing sounds once you start noticing them. You do not want to end up in the worst situation when the belt fully stops functioning because of your ignorance. Invest a good fan belt to avoid frequent replacements.