Serpentine Belts: Your Vehicle's Silent Workhorse

You can easily see the serpentine belts when you look at your engine. These belts have a snake-like appearance, are made of rubber and fiberglass cords, and fit into the grooves of the engine components' pulleys. They must be in good working order to efficiently transfer power from the crankshaft to the other components. 

Watch for bad serpentine belt symptoms, and visit Smalley Diesel Center Inc. for expert serpentine belt inspection and serpentine belt replacement. If you want to know more about a serpentine belt vs. a timing belt or have other questions, ask away.

Signs You Need Serpentine Belt Maintenance

Wear and tear can lead to serpentine belt problems that affect their reliability. Even a  5% material loss  on a serpentine belt can cause it to slip or show increased wear and tear. Regular maintenance is critical to keep your vehicle operating smoothly.

Listen for serpentine belt noise and other symptoms, and bring your vehicle in for professional service at Smalley Diesel Center Inc. when you catch the warning signs. If the problem is something other than your serpentine belts, we'll diagnose your vehicle's issue and provide you with a fair repair estimate.

Serpentine Belt Squeal

You may notice a high-pitched squealing or other serpentine belt noise when a serpentine belt becomes worn or starts slipping from a pulley. Our professional technicians at Smalley Diesel Center Inc. can help diagnose problems such as leaking oil or coolant that is making the belt slip. We can also let you know if normal wear and tear is causing it to slip from the serpentine belt pulley.

AC or Power Steering Malfunctions

One of the benefits of keeping a serpentine belt in good working condition is that it keeps your AC running and helps the power steering function properly. A broken serpentine belt could result in a complete loss of power steering, which is a major safety issue. 

Serpentine belt lifespan depends on how often you drive your vehicle and under what conditions. Talk to our service professionals at Smalley Diesel Center Inc. about setting up a regular serpentine belt inspection schedule. We'll keep your vehicle running smoothly to keep you safe on the road.

Engine Overheating Due to Poor Serpentine Belt Function

One of the functions of serpentine belts is to help provide power to cool the engine. If the belt fails, your water pump will not turn. This causes overheating. If your engine starts to overheat or your check engine light comes on, bring your vehicle in for serpentine belt replacement so we can diagnose what's causing the high temperatures.

Serpentine Belt Cracks

An inspection of all your vehicle's belts is part of a good proactive vehicle maintenance schedule. At Smalley Diesel Center Inc., our experienced service technicians can review your vehicle's serpentine belt diagram to ensure the belts are in good working condition. If necessary, we can replace worn belts or other components that affect your vehicle's reliability.

The best way to prevent problems with your serpentine belts is to have our professionals at Smalley Diesel Center Inc. inspect them regularly for cracks, abrasions, damage, or uneven wear on the belt's ribs. Ask us about setting up a regular inspection and maintenance schedule so we can help you fix minor problems before they become big, expensive ones that affect your vehicle's operation and safety.

Bad Serpentine Belt Tensioner

The  serpentine belt tensioner  keeps the belt drawn tightly against the pulleys. If the tensioner is bad, the belt slips off more easily. Once the belt slips off a component, such as your power steering, it can no longer provide power to that component. Our experienced service team at Smalley Diesel Center Inc. will check the tension of your serpentine belts and determine if the tensioner is the problem.

Visit Smalley Diesel Center Inc. for Serpentine Belt Inspection and Repair

Smalley Diesel Center Inc. has been proudly serving Smalley Diesel Center Inc. since 1975. We help with serpentine belt inspection to ensure your vehicle components operate smoothly and efficiently. We also offer engine repair and other services and can diagnose problems with your AC or power steering unrelated to your serpentine belts. 

Fill out our online request for an appointment, call us at (541) 459-4838, or visit us today at 1625 West Duke Road, Sutherlin, OR 97479. We offer reliable and friendly service using the latest equipment. We offer fair estimates, and we'll work with your schedule to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely.