One of the best ways to maintain and enjoy your used cars for many years is to do some proactive procedures. By checking things out periodically, you can catch problems early before they become big disasters. The car’s belts are something that you can check every few months to make sure they are in proper working condition. Here are some tips for doing that on your used cars.
• Most importantly, make sure the engine is off before you check your belts. If you try to do this with the engine running, you may lose a finger or cause damage to yourself.
• Look for the belts around the engine. For most cars, there will be two belts. Most newer used cars have serpentine belts that run the engine. The belts should not be hard to find.
• Find the area of the belt that has the longest span between pulleys. Press on this area with your thumb to see if it has much tension. If you can push it more than an inch, it’s going to be time to change it soon.
• Look for cracks or stretches. If there are any noticeable cracks or areas where it looks burned or stretched, it probably won’t last much longer.
Belts are a part of a car that wear out after several thousand miles regardless of how well you take care of your engine. Be a little proactive, however, and you can fix these minor problems before they become major.