Apart from powering the wheels of your car, the engine also powers many accessory parts, such as the alternator, the coolant pump, and more. The power is transferred to these accessories using a car belt, otherwise known as a serpentine belt. As durable as these belts are, over time they can begin to crack, fray, slip, and even snap. Here are six signs that you might need to visit your trusted Nissan dealer in College Park, MD for a new serpentine belt.
Malfunctioning Accessories
Since the only purpose of your serpentine belt is to power five essential accessories, if any or all of these accessories break down, you can guess the cause of the problem:
Alternator
Your alternator uses the engine’s power to recharge your battery. So if you have problems with your electronics, and your battery isn’t recharging properly, check your serpentine belt.
Coolant Pump
This pump pushes coolant from the radiator through your engine and back into the radiator. If the pump loses power because of a slipped belt, your engine will begin to overheat. So it’s important to fix it promptly.
Power Steering Pump
Power steering allows you to turn your car’s wheels with relatively little pressure applied to the steering wheel. If steering suddenly becomes more difficult, then your power steering pump might have lost power. Make sure to check your serpentine belt.
Supercharger
The supercharger increases the pressure of air going into the fuel-air mixture of your engine’s combustion chambers. If the supercharger begins to fail, you’ll notice your engine’s power dropping.
Air Conditioning Compressor
This compressor is essential to the functioning of your air conditioning. So if you start to get a little too hot, your serpentine belt might be at fault.
Squealing Noises
A slipping belt often creates squealing sounds as it struggles with the force of the crankshaft and pulleys. As soon as you hear this sound, pull over and pop your hood. You should be able to see if the belt has slipped, and you might even be able to push it back into place. Otherwise, have a technician do it for you.
Frayed or Cracked Belt
When examining your belt, pay attention to the rubber at its edges. If you see that the rubber is cracked or frayed, then the belt is structurally weakened. You’ll need to replace a cracked or frayed belt before it snaps.
Worn Grooves
Rows of V-grooves on the inner side of a serpentine belt act as notches, allowing it to grip matching grooves on the crankshaft and pulleys. When these grooves begin to wear down, it can soon lead to slippage. If you suspect your belt’s grooves are a little worn down, you can either measure them with a specialist tool called a belt wear gauge, or you can have a technician do it for you.
To have an experienced professional examine, repair, or replace your serpentine belt, visit or schedule a service at DARCARS Nissan of College Park, where our technicians are the best for the job. Ready to learn more? We have many auto-related blogs ready to be explored today!
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