Ask Sterling Tire & Auto: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?
November 14, 2017
The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.
The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which cools the engine; the air conditioning, which cools the driver and passengers; and the power steering pump, which allows for easier steering. When the belt breaks, all of these systems shut down.
Okay, so maybe you can live without air conditioning and power steering for a while, but your battery can't live very long without an alternator, and when the cooling system goes down, your vehicle engine will overheat. That's why Sterling Heights drivers should never wait to get a serpentine belt replaced.
Serpentine belts are fairly inexpensive at Sterling Tire & Auto in Sterling Heights. And they look downright cheap when you compare them to the cost of an overheated vehicle engine, a tow truck, time lost on the road, inconvenience, and the potential safety consequences of being stranded.
Good car care means never putting off preventive maintenance. Do yourself a favor. Ask your friendly and knowledgeable Sterling Tire & Auto technician to glance under your hood and give that serpentine belt a quick look-over.
Sterling Tire & Auto
34701 Van Dyke Rd
Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312
586-264-7775
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
Prepare Your Windshield for Winter (Wiper Blades and Fluid for Freezing Temperatures)
June 15, 2025
Winter and freezing temperatures present challenges for different parts of your vehicles. For example, winter tires give you better traction on snow. But some parts of your vehicle that may need special attention for winter are your windshield wipers. You may have found yourself in the middle o... More
How Cool is That! (Coolant level sensor replacement)
June 9, 2025
Your vehicles engine runs hot. It should, since its a series of little explosions that create the power that gets you going where you want to go. To keep the engine cool, engineers have designed wonderful cooling systems that use liquid coolant, hoses, and a radiator to transfer the heat from t... More
I Can See Clearly (Wiper Blade Replacement)
June 2, 2025
Warm weather can bring severe storms, and when the rain is coming down hard, that's one time you really need to be able to see as clearly as possible out your windshield. Having wiper blades that are fit for the job are important to maintain that safe view. Maybe you live in a climate where you ... More