March 29, 2024

Automotive Breakdown

Apologies to the old Buick ad; “this isn’t your father’s fan belt”. The venerable old V-belt has been long gone and in its place is a ribbed flat belt often called a ‘serpentine belt’.  These ribbed flat belts often use both sides of the belt to drive the engine accessories as they wrap and snake around the pulleys they drive.  They are longer lasting, and use less horsepower to drive the accessories we have all gotten quite used to; power steering, air conditioning, and the ever important alternator. Water pumps are often, but not always, driven by the timing belt….