8 Symptoms of a Faulty V-Belt
That squealing sound under your hood when you start your car in the morning is not an innocent sound. It’s a sound that indicates your belt needs attention. This vital belt connects to the rotation of your crankshaft, powering important ancillary components like your alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering pump.
When this drive belt becomes shiny, cracked, or starts to slip, a variety of problems can occur. Paying immediate attention to the signs of a broken belt can help you avoid being stranded on the road with a broken down vehicle and costly repair bills. Serpentine belts, also known as drive belts, V-belts or accessory drive belts, are the main engine belts you see when you open the hood of your car. These straps are easily identifiable by a distinctive groove running the entire length of the strap on one side. The groove provides support as it turns the power transfer pulleys.
V-belts differ from timing belts in that they are not typically visible when you open the hood. Access to the timing belt usually requires partial disassembly of the engine. Motor accessories need to get their energy from somewhere, but you might be surprised to learn that it’s not the battery. When the engine is running, the rotational motion of the crankshaft is transferred to each accessory pulley via a V-belt. If the vehicle is equipped with a compressor, the belt also drives the compressor.
V-belt vs V-belt
Older engines have V-belts instead of V-belts. These are thinner and smaller than V-belts and usually connect the accessories to the crankshaft. Engines often have multiple V-belts, but only one V-belt. Both types of belts serve a similar purpose.
Common Symptoms of a Faulty V-Belt
Don’t let a broken belt stop you from doing maintenance for later. A broken belt can leave you powerless. If your alternator pulley stops turning, you won’t be able to charge your battery. When the belt wears out, it will show several signs. Below are some of the most common symptoms of a worn belt:
1) No Air Conditioning
If your air conditioning system isn’t working, there could be a number of different reasons. The V-belt ensures the functioning of your air conditioner, so a faulty V-belt will impair that function. If you notice that no cool air is blowing out of the vents when you turn on your air conditioner, a faulty fan belt could be the culprit.
2) Squeaking noises
If you hear a creaking noise coming from the front of your car, it could be a misaligned or slipping belt. In some cases, simply adjusting the belt’s position or properly tensioning it may be enough to solve this problem. In other cases, the belt may be damaged and will need to be replaced.
3) No power steering
The V-belt ensures that power steering works properly. Power steering allows the driver to steer the vehicle smoothly without putting too much strain on their arms. If the belt breaks, you’ll have difficulty turning the steering wheel and steering your car.
This problem can also be caused by having too little power steering fluid. Check under the hood to make sure the power steering fluid reservoir is at the recommended fluid level.
4) Pattering or Scratching Noises
When a belt becomes loose or frayed, you may hear a rhythmic shuddering or scraping noise in the engine compartment. This noise is often associated with each revolution of the engine. When you accelerate and increase the engine speed, this rhythmic noise accelerates. Sometimes it gets louder too.
A loose belt may be repaired by adjusting or replacing the belt tensioner. In some cases, you may need a new V-belt.
5) Visible cracks on the strap
The fan belt is easily accessible on most cars. If you want to know if the belt is bad, open the hood and look at the belt itself. If there is a visible crack or damage anywhere on the belt, it means that the belt is defective and needs to be replaced immediately.
6) Dead battery
If one day you suddenly lose power while driving, check under the hood to see if the belt is still attached. Even if you can start the car, a broken belt means the alternator can no longer charge the battery.
Without a charge, the spark plugs, radio and headlights use power, and the car will eventually break down. Vehicles can often run for a while without a working generator, but not for long. If the belt is too loose to hold the alternator pulley in place, symptoms similar to a broken belt can occur.
7) Abnormal pulley noises
If you notice engine whine that changes with engine speed, recheck the belt tension. A belt that is too tight can put undue strain on the bearings of each power transmission pulley and often lead to premature failure of these components.
One of the most common failure modes in engine power take-offs is actually bearing failure. This is caused by a V-belt that is too tight. If you suspect that your belt is too tight, you should correct this issue as soon as possible to avoid expensive engine damage to surrounding components.
8) Engine overheating
In engines where the V-belt drives the water pump, this is the most important symptom. If the belt is damaged or worn, it can slip or break, causing the water pump to not work properly. Without a working water pump, coolant cannot flow through your engine and can cause the engine to overheat quickly. Overheating can cause damage to engine components such as the cylinder head, head gasket, and engine block, which can result in expensive repairs and replacements.