That high pitched squeak? It could be your serpentine belt.
The serpentine belt, or drive belt, connects auxiliary engine components to the crankshaft pulley. Most modern vehicles only have one serpentine belt which runs all of the accessory components on the vehicle though some may have up to four, depending on the type of engine.
The high temperature of the engine bay can cause the belt’s rubber to crack over time– and, eventually, break. If your serpentine belt fails it can, in turn, cause your alternator to fail, force your power steering to konk out and make your engine overheat. Because of the chain reaction of destruction it can cause, your drive belt should be inspected at regular intervals.
Squeaking Noise from Engine Bay
When a drive belt is worn out or needs to be repaired, you might hear a high pitched squeaking noise coming from the engine. That’s the sound of the belt ‘slipping’ on the pulleys and other components that it helps operate, like the power steering, alternator, water pump, and air conditioning system.
If you’re not sure what that noise sounds like, this video can help you diagnose it:
If ever you hear this sound, it’s important to get your car checked out right away.
At V&F
Knowing the condition of your vehicle’s belts, and getting them replaced when worn, could save you from a costly and inconvenient repair. If you want to know what shape your car’s belts are in call us today at 413-314-2280 or schedule an appointment online.