Belts in your vehicle can get damaged for a variety of reasons. Continental has put together a video showing the common ways belts get damaged and how to identify a worn belt.
Cracking – Caused By:
- Heat
- Age
- Constant flexing
Cord Separation – Caused By:
- Misaligned drive
- Excessive belt tension
- Belt rubbing against the side of the pulley
Glazing (shininess along edge of belt) – Caused By:
- Excessive heat from under-tensioned belt
- Or worn out belt slipping on pulley
Chunking – Caused By:
- Caused by debris damage
- Extreme drying due to age and heat
Missing Rib – Caused By:
- Technician error is cause
- When a belt’s rib hangs over edge of pulley
Slipping, Noisy Belt – Caused By:
- Can be caused by a belt that is wrong length
- Malfunctioning tensioner
- Component misalignment
- Glazing
*Contamination from an oil leak can also degrade a belt
We hope we’ve given you a better idea of how to identify a worn belt. If you have a belt that needs replacing, come into Arch Auto Parts, or shop us online, where you will find OE-quality timing belts and serpentine belts from Continental. Whether it’s a new belt, or any other auto part, you can be confident you are getting the “Right Parts. Right Now.”