Belts and Hoses Replacement
Your vehicle’s belts and hoses are involved in processes within the cooling system, air conditioning system, charging system, and engine. These belts and hoses play crucial roles in functional operations inside your vehicle. The heater hose and radiator hose carry liquid coolant to and from the engine, radiator, and heater core. The timing belt is responsible for maintaining engine precision by synchronizing the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft, which move the engine’s valves and pistons. However, not all vehicles contain timing belts. In place of timing belts, some vehicles use timing chains. On the outside of the engine, the serpentine belt transmits power from the front of the engine to other systems in the vehicle, like the air conditioning system and charging system. Some factors that contribute to wear and tear on your belts and hoses include:
- Vehicle age
- Mileage
- Belt tension
- Hose clamp failure
- Electrochemical degradation
- Oil contamination
In the long run, routine maintenance and replacements of your vehicle’s belts and hoses will prevent breakdowns and costly repairs. Contact us today if you suspect that one of your belts or hoses need to be replaced.
Signs That Your Need a Belt Or Hose Replacement
When compared to other components in your car, belts and hoses have one of the shortest life spans. These items are constantly exposed to engine heat, vehicle vibrations, and harmful chemicals, which all have the potential to cause cracks and leaks. Some symptoms to be aware of for belts and hoses nearing failure include squeaking, screeching, or grinding noises that begin when starting your engine or appear during vehicle operation. It’s worth noting that grinding sounds near belts are usually associated with a bad pulley bearing rather than the belt itself, as the pulley bearing may freeze up and ultimately lead to a belt replacement.
Other symptoms of a bad belt or hose include:
- Loss of power
- Leaking coolant or other fluids
- Illuminated dashboard lights
- Rising steam from the engine
- Air conditioning failure
While routine maintenance of belts and hoses is always important, summertime is an especially important season to keep an eye under the hood due to increased temperatures, which will accelerate deterioration of the rubber components. Since belts and hoses can be difficult to inspect visually, be sure to follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for scheduled maintenance.
Types of Belts and Hoses That We Replace:
Ramona Tire offers belt and hose replacements at all of our locations. Listed below are a few of the services that we offer:
Heater Hose Replacement
Heater hoses play a crucial role in a vehicle’s heating system. When your heater hoses near the end of their useful life, they will become hard and brittle or soft and mushy. If they crack, the coolant will leak and pool underneath your vehicle. When this happens, allow a member of our service staff to replace your heater hoses. A leaky hose means your heating system will not effectively heat your vehicle, and your cooling system will not have a proper supply of coolant. Leaky heater hoses can result in your engine overheating. As such, we encourage you to periodically inspect your heater hoses to determine the correct time to replace them.
Radiator Hose Replacement
Replacing your radiator hoses is one way to minimize the chance of engine failure and breakdowns. A visual inspection of your hoses can help you determine the proper time to replace them. A coolant leak in either green, red, or yellow liquid is another warning sign of a cracked or corroded radiator hose that should be replaced. Bad hoses can cause serious engine damage through an overheating engine or catastrophic failure.
Serpentine Belt Replacement
Because your serpentine belt powers varying processes in the front of your engine, failure of the belt will result in failure of the other processes. If the serpentine belt fails to power the water pump, an important part of the cooling system, your engine could overheat and break down. Steering would also be impossible without a fully functioning belt. Regular inspections can keep your serpentine belt operating as intended. Visual inspections are the best way to detect early signs of serpentine belt issues, like frays and cracks. A loose belt can result in overheating, engine noise, or a dead battery. Manufacturers advise adhering to specific maintenance intervals for scheduling a serpentine belt replacement. When it’s time to replace your serpentine belt, just give us a call or contact us online.
Timing Belt Replacement
Avoiding a timing belt replacement can result in complete engine failure. A worn or stretched belt can disrupt the operating order of the valves and pistons, which can result in a piston hitting a valve and damaging the engine. Warning signs that your timing belt is failing include rough idling or difficulty starting the engine. Replacement of your timing belt will help keep your engine performing as it should and ensure you avoid expensive future repairs. During our replacement service, your belt will be replaced and synchronized with the crankshaft and camshaft to restore proper operating precision and order. It is widely recommended that you have your water pump changed during a timing belt replacement service as well. If your water pump fails later, it can do great damage to your vehicle. Referring to your owner’s manual will help determine the appropriate service intervals for timing belt maintenance.
We offer belt and hose replacements at all our locations in Inland Empire. Schedule an appointment at your local Ramona Tire today.