Your serpentine belt is a belt that passes through pulleys to help power parts that are connected to the engine, such as the radiator fan and alternator. In older vehicles there were often multiple belts, but nowadays the serpentine belt does all the work. This makes it an important part since having it break means waiting for a tow truck on the side of the road, so it’s best to get yours checked and, when necessary, replaced by a team of technicians you can trust, like our technicians at the service department of Lexus Downtown.
Read on to find out why you should replace your serpentine belt every 100,000 kilometres, as well as signs that indicate it might be time to get your serpentine belt replaced.
How Often to Get Your Serpentine Belt Replaced
Like with anything that gets wear and tear, there are different things that wear out your serpentine belt more quickly. Newer vehicles have serpentine belts that are made with the best materials available, which means they tend to last longer than serpentine belts found in older models. That being said, it’s often suggested that serpentine belts tend to wear out and need replacing after 100,000 kilometres of driving. Not replacing a worn serpentine belt can result in the belt breaking, which in turn means your vehicle is no longer safe to drive.
Signs Your Serpentine Belt Needs Replacing
Your Lexus won’t run if the belt is broken, or worse, will overheat and severely damage the rest of your engine, so watch out for these signs that indicate it’s time to get it checked by trained technicians so this doesn’t happen:
- Noises from your engine that sound like chirps or squeals (signs the belt is slipping because of loose tension or misalignment from belt damage)
- The power steering, alternator, or climate control failing (all three are controlled by the serpentine belt)
- Overheating (the serpentine belt also controls the water pump that cools the engine)
Get Your Serpentine Belt Replaced at Lexus Downtown in Toronto, ON
If you notice your Lexus making the signs that your serpentine belt needs attention, stop by Lexus Downtown. Our technicians will check the wear and tear on your serpentine belt and advise replacement when necessary. Contact us if you have any questions about our availability, or fill out the form below to book yourself in for a service appointment at our location in Toronto, ON, today!