There are a variety of components that make up the cooling system of a car. Most people fail to realize just how much heat their engine produces. Having the components of a car’s cooling system running at peak condition is the only way to prevent engine overheating. The water pump on a car helps to push the water and coolant through an engine in order to bring its internal temperature down. The water pump belt helps to keep the pulley on the water pump engaged. Without a properly working water pump belt, the cooling system of a car will not be able to function the right way.
Just like any other belt on a car, the water pump belt will eventually wear out and will have to be replaced. Usually, the life of a belt will be about 10,000 to 20,000 miles. There are a variety of components, such as oil leaks or malfunctioning temperatures that will lead to the belt wearing out quicker than usual. The best way to catch issues with a belt is by doing an inspection on occasion to look for damage. If you start to notice that there are cracks in the grooves of even abrasions on the back of the belt, then you will need to take the time to get a professional to look at it.
Having a belt snap while the engine is driving can lead to overheating. If the water pump belt is a serpentine variety, then it will run other vital parts of your engine. This means that when the belt breaks, it will cause the whole car to shut down.
The following are some of the things that you may notice when it is time to have a water pump belt replaced:
- Cracks and wear marks on the belt
- Not enough tension on the belt
- The belt is slipping off of the pulley on a regular basis
If any of the above symptoms are present with your vehicle, have a certified mechanic replace the bad water pump belt to eliminate any further complications.
