One of the most common sounds of fall is a sharp squeal from under the hood when you first start your car on a cool morning. It might last a few seconds and then go away, or it might come back when you turn the wheel or switch on the A/C. Very often, that noise is your serpentine belt.
The serpentine belt is a long rubber belt that snakes around several pulleys at the front of the engine. It powers some very important parts, including the alternator that charges your battery, the A/C compressor, the power steering on many cars and, on a lot of engines, the water pump that keeps the engine cool.
As the belt ages, the rubber hardens and cracks, and it can stretch a little. Cold weather makes the rubber even stiffer, so it slips on the pulleys for a moment before it grips. That slipping is what you hear as a squeal.
The noise itself isn’t the danger. The danger is what happens if the belt breaks. When it goes, the battery stops charging, the steering can suddenly get very heavy and the engine can overheat quickly. It almost always happens at an inconvenient time and place.
Sometimes the squeal isn’t the belt itself but a worn tensioner or pulley that’s no longer holding the belt tight. That’s why we check the whole system rather than just swapping the belt and hoping.
A serpentine belt is usually an affordable part, and replacing it before it fails is much easier than dealing with a breakdown. If your car has been squealing in the mornings, it’s worth a quick look. We’ll check the belt for cracks and wear and let you know if it needs to be replaced or if it has plenty of life left. Call Home Town Auto Care at (615) 656-8461 or stop by 108 Confederate Dr in Franklin, Monday through Friday from 7 to 5.
