serpentine belt Grahn

All of us in Olive Hill have those days when we’ve got a bunch of errands to run around the Grahn and Olive Hill area. Suppose on your day off you need to get gas, pick up some groceries, swing by your Olive Hill ATM 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 ATM first and get some gas next. Then you go to your Olive Hill 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 family car. 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 family car 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 family car. 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 in Olive Hill.

On some vehicles the water pump or 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 your Carter tech can inspect it for damage or wear.

Finally, there is the belt tensioner. Its job is to apply pressure on the belt to keep it tight. Several years ago, auto 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. Your tech uses a simple gauge to tell when the belt is worn and you need a serpentine belt replacement. A worn belt stresses your family car engine’s expensive accessories and causes them to wear prematurely.

So, change your serpentine belt and belt tensioner as recommended by your caring Porter Tire & Auto tech to extend the life of your accessories and to prevent future breakdowns.

Give us a call

Porter Tire & Auto
606.286.4484
18361 West US 60
Olive Hill, KY 41164

At Porter Tire & Auto in Olive Hill KY (41164) we install quality NAPA replacement parts. Give us a call at 606.286.4484. To learn more about NAPA AutoCare, visit www.NAPAAutoCare.com.

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