What are the symptoms of engine belt aging?
2 Answers
Belt aging symptoms include reduced hardness, abrasion, fiber breakage, or phenomena such as cracks and fissures. Below is more information about engine belts: 1. Function: The generator belt is the outer belt of the engine, connecting equipment like the generator compressor, ensuring functions such as power generation for the vehicle during engine operation. 2. Reasons for aging: Belts are rubber components. As the engine operating time increases, the belt and its attachments, such as the belt tensioner pulley, belt tensioner, and water pump, will experience wear or aging. Sudden temperature changes, exposure to sunlight, extremely cold weather, and prolonged friction can all accelerate the aging of the timing belt.
My car had obvious belt aging issues recently. While driving, I could feel something was off, especially during cold starts when there was a high-pitched squealing sound from the engine area, like teeth grinding. The noise got worse when accelerating or using the AC, and belt slippage caused unstable RPM fluctuations, making the car shake violently. After parking, I checked and found fine cracks on the belt surface, with severe wear in some areas—the edges were even rounded. This aging also affected other components, like the charging system light coming on, the battery not charging properly, and weaker AC cooling. The critical point is that if the belt isn't replaced in time, it could suddenly snap, causing the engine to stall—extremely dangerous on highways. So, I do a simple visual inspection myself every six months to avoid costly repairs. Regular maintenance can extend belt life, but generally, after four or five years, you need to be cautious.
