What Does a Drive Belt Do in the Ford F-150?
The engine in your Ford operates through a combination of many moving parts. The alternator delivers power, the water pump cools your engine, the power steering pump helps you easily drive, and the air conditioner compressor regulates a comfortable operating temperature. However, in order for all these parts to work together, a car needs functional drive belts.
Drive belts connect power to the different engine components underneath the hood. They operate through the friction generated by the gears between a belt and pulley. Unfortunately, that means they eventually wear out and need to be replaced.
V-Belts vs Serpentine Belts
A v-belt system utilizes multiple belts to operate the alternator, the air conditioning compressor, the power steering pump and the water pump from the crankshaft of the engine.
Older vehicles usually operate with v-belts, which offers a few advantages. They’re shorter, and since there are multiple belts, the entire vehicle doesn’t stop from one belt failure. However, belts typically wear out around the same time, which means you’ll have to replace several belts at one time.
A
serpentine belt is a single-belt system used in more modern vehicles. They are easier to replace, but since there is only one belt, the entire engine goes off-line if it fails.
How Do I Know When It’s Time for a Drive Belt Replacement on my Ford F-150?
It’s time to replace a v-belt if you start to hear squeaking from your engine, and your accessories begin to stop working. Fluid contamination or normal wear and tear can indicate it’s time for a replacement.
If your serpentine belt is starting to fail, your car will take a while to start or may not start at all. You may also start to hear squeaking caused by the cracking belt, fluid contamination, or poor belt tension.
How to Take Care of My Drive Belts?
Take caring of your drive belts is easy. Look for leaking oil and make sure to get scheduled oil changes. Talk to your mechanic and make sure they inspect your vehicle for adequate engine undercover to prevent road dirt, oil, and water from contaminating your drive belt.
How Long Do Serpentine Belts Last?
Drive belts have a long life and don’t need to be changed often. A typical serpentine belt lasts about 50,000 miles, but make sure to chat with your mechanic to know the status of your drive belt. Driving with a worn out or damaged belt can eventually lead to other expensive repairs.
Why Would My Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced?
Timing belts, sometimes called a camshaft drive belt, are made of rubber and are necessary for a smooth ride. It enables the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. A timing belt opens and closes your vehicle’s engine valves to sync up with your pistons. It also prevents the pistons from hitting valves. Needless to say, a functioning timing belt is crucial for you vehicle to properly work.
How Do I Know When It's Time to Replace My Timing Belt?
Although timing belts last for a long time, there are many signs your timing belt is on its last rotation. You may start to hear a slapping sound from underneath the hood and your car will roughly idle. Once it completely fails, your vehicle will not work at all.
Signs of a bad timing belt are stripped teeth or unraveling of the internal fibers on the rubber. This will look like a smooth section and cause the drive cogs to slip.
Don’t prolong replacing your timing belt. If you have a complete timing belt failure, it can cause serious damage to internal valves and pistons, which may result in you having to shop for new valves and pistons. Besides normal wear and tear, internal fluid leaks can lead to an early retirement of your timing belt.
Proper Maintenance for Ford Timing Belts
Make sure your mechanic checks your timing belt for correct tension. If it’s too loose, the belt will cause a whipping sound. If it’s too tight, the belt will put excessive tension on the cogs of your engine.
Check for leaking oil or other fluids that may cause an issue. Dirt, water, and excessive heat can also cause your timing belt to start giving you issues. It’s always better to replace your timing belt earlier rather than later, because if you do end up pushing it to failure, you can be left with more repairs than a simple belt.
Find the Part You Need for Your Ford Search by Your VIN
Start your drive belt search and enter your VIN. We will filter the results so you can pick from belts that are guaranteed to fit your exact car. If you have any questions, contact
our certified parts experts for answers.
