Dynamo belt is one of the important and practical parts in the car. Usually this belt is located in the front of the engine and you will see it by raising the hood of the car. With its movement, the dynamo belt also causes the parts connected to it to move. The energy needed by the alternator is transmitted through this belt. In general, the dynamo belt in the car is responsible for converting the mechanical energy of the engine into electrical energy and transferring it to the battery. If the alternator belt is damaged, charging the car battery will also have a problem.
Types of car alternator belts
There are 3 types of alternator belts: two-coil, three-coil and four-coil.
Belts of three coal alternators are almost no longer useful and are not used.
The alternator belt includes idler, belt and belt tensioner.
The right time to replace the car’s alternator belt
Every time the car engine is started and turned on, the alternator belt is heavily exposed to engine heat, wear and friction. As a result, after using the car for some time, the propeller belt must be replaced so that other parts of the car, such as the engine and the air conditioning system, are not damaged.
It is recommended to replace the alternator belt in old cars after every 80,000 kilometers of driving. For newer cars, it is said to change the cooler belt every 150,000 kilometers. However, the best thing to do to make sure it’s time to replace the alternator belt is to have it periodically serviced and checked.
If you see any tearing, wear, excessive dryness, etc. in the alternator belt, you should replace it immediately. Other parts that you should replace when replacing the cooler belt are the belt tension controller as well as the pulleys.
If the alternator belt needs to be replaced for any reason, but it is ignored, the water pump that cools the car’s engine will not work well and the engine’s temperature will rise, which will damage it. Another problem that arises is the improper functioning of the car’s air conditioning system.
One of the most important defects of the car if the hydraulic belt is not changed is that it becomes difficult to drive the car and in some cases it becomes impossible to control it.
In the following, we will review the items that indicate damage to the alternator belt, so that if you see any of them in your car, you should replace this part.
Symptoms of car alternator belt failure
Usually, the breakdown of the dynamo belt shows itself with symptoms. Knowing these symptoms will help you identify the problem as soon as possible and take the necessary measures to fix it. Some of the most common signs of a damaged alternator belt are:
1. Appearance changes in car cooler belt
Tears, cracks, breaks, excessive drying and greasing of the dynamo belt are some of the things that you can notice by examining this part. Seeing any of these changes on the propeller belt means you need to replace it.
2. The battery warning light should turn on
Since the dynamo belt plays an essential role in transferring energy to the battery, its failure will cause disruption to the battery and its performance. Accordingly, turning on the car battery light is one of the signs of the failure of the cooler belt.
3. Car cooler problems are one of the causes of car hydraulic belt failure
One of the symptoms that usually appear quickly when the alternator belt fails is the loss of air quality in the car cooler or the cooler not working. If your car air conditioner is not as cool as before, you should check the air conditioner belt. If this part is damaged, you must replace it to fix the problem.
4. A screeching sound from the front of the car
You may hear a squeaking sound from the hood while driving. In this case, it is most likely that the wear and tear of the alternator belt has caused this sound. Another possibility in this case is that the adjustment and displacement of the alternator belt are messed up.
The solution to this problem is to replace the hydraulic belt or adjust it in place.
To adjust and place the cooler belt, you should check the lower base of the alternator and also the base of the hydraulic steering pump. If needed and damaged, you must replace this part.
If this issue is not the reason for the car’s dynamo belt sticking out, you should go for a paid inspection of the crankshaft head. If this part is damaged or changed, you must replace it.
5. The car steering wheel is tight
If it becomes difficult to drive and move the steering wheel, you should check the alternator belt. The dynamo belt can be one of the factors that cause serious problems related to the car’s steering wheel.
6. Car engine overheating
If the car’s hydraulic belt is damaged, one of the things that can happen is the car’s engine overheating. If the temperature of the car engine gets too high, it can be seriously damaged.
Another thing that can happen due to the damage of the alternator belt in the car engine is the increase in the car engine speed. When the engine speed increases for no reason, one of the reasons you should check is checking and replacing the alternator belt.
Ways to prevent alternator belt damage
How to prevent alternator belt damage. This is a question that many car drivers ask. Following some simple tips will help you to delay the timing of replacing the alternator belt. Some of the most important points are:
– Do not turn on the car lights during the day and for no reason.
– Do not leave the car lights on when the car is stopped.
Do not use batteries with a capacity of less than 65 mA in the car.
-Avoid buying unknown and very cheap and low-quality alternator belts.
Check the car’s alternator belt in terms of appearance and adjustment every few months.