Back to all

Tuffy TIre & Auto Service Center Orland Park Maintenance Tips: The Belt Goes On

March 3, 2024

drive All Orland Park service advisors know that without the alternator, the battery will go dead in a few miles.

The serpentine belt may also run the pumps for both the power steering and power brakes. And on many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it within normal operating temperatures. (On some vehicles, the water pump is powered by the timing belt instead of the serpentine belt.)

So you can see the serpentine belt does a lot of work. And it if breaks, it affects a lot of systems. That's why your vehicle manufacturer and your service advisor at Tuffy TIre & Auto Service Center Orland Park have recommended that it be changed every so often so that it doesn't fail.

Your friendly and knowledgeable Tuffy TIre & Auto Service Center Orland Park service advisor can perform a visual inspection of the belt to see if it has any cracks that signal the belt could fail soon and will measure the amount of belt material to make sure there is enough.

Your serpentine belt works in tandem with a spring loaded pulley attached to the engine called the tensioner pulley. Its job is to make sure there's a constant tension on the serpentine belt so that it doesn't slip. The spring can become worn and no longer provide the necessary pressure to keep the belt tight. At Tuffy TIre & Auto Service Center Orland Park in Orland Park, we recommend that the tensioner be replaced at the same time as the serpentine belt.

Tuffy TIre & Auto Service Center Orland Park
7900 W. 159th St.
Orland Park, Illinois 60462
708-444-2966

Need Service?

Request a Quote

More articles from Tuffy Orland Park

How Tired Are Your Tires? (Tire replacement)

December 28, 2025

Of the things you think about most, your tires are probably pretty far down the list. Thats understandable because todays tires are engineered to do their job without needing you to pay too much attention to them. But they DO wear out, and worn tires can contribute to skidding in bad weather, not... More

Keeping Yourself in Suspension (Control Arm Assembly Replacement)

December 21, 2025

When you are pointing your vehicle straight down the street, it should go straight. Thats pretty straightforward, right? Sometimes, though, you may notice you have to keep adjusting the steering wheel to keep going straight. While that could be caused by many different issues, one possibility i... More

Don?t Meddle with the Pedal (Brake Caliper Replacement)

December 14, 2025

If you drive a newer vehicle, chances are it has disc brakes, and one of the components of that type of brake is called a brake caliper. The caliper allows the pressure from your foot on the brake pedal to eventually move brake pads against discs in your wheels, which then slow and stop your veh... More