Posted on 10/31/2025
A healthy serpentine belt keeps your alternator charging, your water pump circulating coolant, and your A/C blowing cold. When the belt slips or starts to crack, those systems suffer together. The tricky part is that many belts look fine until they do not. If your engine has begun to squeak at startup, or you notice a dim battery light in traffic with the A/C on, it is time to look closely at the belt and the parts that guide it. What the Serpentine Belt Actually Does Modern engines use one long multi-rib belt to drive several accessories at once. As the crankshaft turns, the belt spins the alternator, power steering pump, water pump on many models, and the A/C compressor. That single loop is efficient, but it also means one worn belt can affect charging, cooling, and steering on the same day. The belt relies on correct tension and clean pulley grooves to grip. Any slippage turns into heat and glaze on the ribbed side, which shortens life. Why Belts Fail Ev ... read more