EN
They are essential to a car' s operation, linking its systems together while also being among the most overlooked parts. Lose one and the whole vehicle can be compromised. If it fails or escapes, the A/C compressor, power-steering pump, alternator and more will fail. Therefore, one should know how to identify a poor or a good automotive belt. In this case, we have compiled some of the good and bad tests and how to determine whether a belt is bad.
I. Identifying Quality Before Purchasing
Smell
You just have to snap your face out of your car and see if the belt is good and the best way to find out is to smell it, yep! This is the simplest and effective way of measuring the quality of a belt. Most low-quality rubber products have a very strong, sticky rubber odour and great belts do not. The difference between buying these belts is very minimal.
You can feel the distinction between the two items very easily; they feel and look different. To maintain low cost, knockoffs are likely to compromise on materials and construction and may end up with course finishes and hazy printing.
You should visit more than one repair or store and price and feature questions before purchasing a belt. Before you buy it is recommended to compare their products with a range of prices different. The best protection against fake and counterfeiting goods is not to purchase items in dubious sources.
II. Identifying Damage During Use
Belts on your car are a consumable product. They will be dressed and worn out with age and their accessories too. This is the reason why it is so crucial to keep an eye on the condition of your belts, and to that it occurs in a timely manner. In this case, we are going to take a tour of the methods to identify the bad belt based on their sounds and appearance.
Identify Damage by Sound
When a belt squeals, then you are normally losing at least some of your surface friction, and there is too much wear. Get somebody to start or load the vehicle, and as it is doing so in case you hear squeaking then check one of the drive belts. Should there be too much resistance or too little tension in the automatic belt tensioner or belt tensioner pulley. When you hear a noise, it is likely that the belt is vibrating. This is mostly caused by the drive belt being loose or being stretched out or by the belt tensioner/tensioner pulley being damaged.
Observe Belt Changes
Extending Belt Life: The first thing in checking the condition of a belt is to check the tension. Stick your finger down into the middle of the pulley. When the belt drops approximately 10 mm under pressure of approximately 10 kg, then the belt tension is correct. The belt tension is not adequate when there is a large deflection on the belt. A loose pulley may result in a lack of tension, as well as a stretched belt. In the case of a belt, the edges stretched, it is literally torn asunder and must be thrown away.
Loose or Cracked Belts: Worn, cracked fissure and burrs should be observed on the top face of the belt which is damaged and should not be used again, especially when the belt is less hard.
The bottom line: Counterfeit and substandard belts might negatively affect engine performance, accelerate the degradation of your car, and even endanger the life of a driver. Identification and comparison are crucial especially in purchasing. Moreover, when using it on a daily basis, it is necessary to perform regular maintenance work and detect faults early.