Since Tuesday was the official first day of fall, this is a good time to check belts and hoses to get ready for cooler weather and colder temperatures.  Problems with belts and hoses can mean big trouble, so this is a perfect time to make sure the belts and hoses in your vehicle are in good shape.  On most engines, the serpentine belt is used to turn the water pump, alternator, power steering and air-conditioning compressor, so if a belt breaks, these will abruptly stop working and the chances that you suddenly find yourself stranded are high, while a blown hose could cause an overheated engine and even additional engine damage.

In an earlier post some time ago, I wrote about the experience I had when the serpentine belt on a vehicle I was driving snapped, causing me to be stranded on the roadside.  Luckily, I was only a few miles from home and help was just a phone call away, but I know others may not be so fortunate.

There are ways to know the condition of belts and hoses just by looking, but sometimes it’s not easy to know the true condition of a belt or hose because some belts and hoses fail from the inside out. Which is why it’s also a good idea to replace belts, radiator and heater hoses at specific times – like the first week of fall, or in the months of September or October, before cold weather sets in.

Rubber hoses can get hard and brittle; they simply deteriorate with age and the exposure to heat, which can cause the hoses to split, blister or leak. Belts also break down with heat, mileage and age, as well.  Whenever a belt passes around a pulley, it bends. This type of flexing produces heat, which causes the rubber to harden over time. If the belt is loose or slips, the wear process can be accelerated.

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking belts and hoses every time you have the oil changed, or when you change the oil yourself: 

You’ll want to look for wear on hoses, such as hardening, or softening, by giving each hose a good squeeze.  A hose which feels rock hard or mushy is due for a new replacement.  If you notice any leaking, blistering, fraying, cracks, or any other visible damage on the outside of the hose, they will need to be replaced as well.

Clamps should be replaced when new hoses are installed.

Older cars use individual V-belts, which should be replaced every three to four years or 40,000 to 50,000 miles, and V-belts and serpentine belts should also be checked for looseness.

Experts recommend replacing the timing belt between 60,000 and 90,000 miles, or based on the interval specified in the vehicle owner’s manual.

According to a recent survey, nearly one-third of all cars and light trucks have belts or hoses that should probably be replaced.

Proper maintenance habits of your vehicle’s belts and hoses are an easy way to protect your car’s reliability, and prevent more costly repairs down the line.

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