Belt

Timing Belts

The timing belt is also sometimes called a camshaft drive belt or a Gilmer belt. It is a notched
belt, made of rubber that enables the crankshaft to turn the camshaft, and opens and closes the
engine valves synchronously with the pistons. In late model vehicles, the timing belt has
essentially replaced the metal timing chain.

The advantage of the timing belt over the timing chain is that if the timing belt fails, there is less
potential for damage to valves and pistons.

Most cars have interference engines, which mean the clearance between the moving parts is so
small that if they get out of time, they'll run into each other. The timing belt connects the
crankshaft and camshaft, keeping them in sync. Usually, these should be replaced every 60,000
to 90,000 miles.

Drive Belts & V-Belts

Some vehicles have multiple belts, called v-

belts that come off the crankshaft of the engine
to drive the alternator, the air conditioning
compressor, the power steering pump and the
water pump. In older vehicles, v-belts were the
standard. v-belts should be inspected every
4800km or 3 month

Advantages of the v-belt system are:

 Belts are short and not likely to slip.

 If one belt fails, the entire vehicle
doesn’t end up off-line.

Disadvantages of the v-belt system are:

 Auto supply stores may not stock a full range of belts, and they may need to be special-
ordered.
 Belts will usually wear at about the same rate, so you could end up having to replace
several belts within a short time frame.

Serpentine Belt

Serpentine belts
A serpentine belt is a single, long belt that drives all the engine components that would otherwise
be powered by multiple v-belts. Serpentine belts are most common in newer cars, and are
essentially the standard for the modern vehicle.

Advantages of serpentine belts are:

 No chance of multiple belt failure.

 Easy to replace.

Disadvantages of serpentine belts are:

 Multiple accessories can be affected if the belt loosens.

 When the belt fails, the entire engine is off-line.

Symptoms, causes, and effects of failed or failing drive belts

 V-belts: If a v-belt is failing, it will squeak, and accessories may not work properly. If it
fails, the accessories that it powers will stop working. Causes can include ordinary wear
or fluid contamination.

 Serpentine belts: If a serpentine belt is failing, accessories may not work properly, car
may be hard to start or not start at all, and the belt may emit a squeaking, screeching or
chirping sound. Causes can include cracking, wear or stripping, fluid contamination and
poor belt tension.

 Timing belts: If a timing belt is failing, your car may idle rough, or you may hear a
slapping sound from the motor compartment. If it fails, your car will not work at all.
There is also a possibility of serious damage to the valves and pistons. Causes can include
wear, slipping or fluid contamination.

Common enemies of drive belts

Road dirt, oil, water, and excessive heat are all enemies that can cause drive belt problems, so
you should make sure that your car isn’t leaking oil, and that when you’re topping off your oil
you do it carefully. Make sure that your engine undercover isn’t missing or damaged, since it is
your first line of defense against contaminants that you can pick up on the road.

Recommendations

You should have your vehicle checked by a mechanic regularly in order to determine if your
belts need to be adjusted or replaced. Timing belts are generally long-lived, but given the
potential consequences if the timing belt fails, the importance of regular check-ups cannot be
over-estimated. Serpentine belts usually need to be changed about every 50,000 miles. It makes
no sense to keep driving with a worn or damaged belt, because eventually, it will break and
you’ll end up stranded and possibly needing expensive repairs