This belt should not be confused with a timing belt, which serves a completely different purpose. While the timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in sync., the auxiliary drive belt is what keeps the engine accessories running smoothly and efficiently.

Auxiliary drive belt: What is it?

An auxiliary drive belt consists of a long rubber belt that propels power to engine components via a system of pulleys that are driven by the main crankshaft pulley. These engine components include:

• Alternator
• Air conditioning compressor
• Power steering pump
• Water pump (in some vehicles)

Its wide, flat, and often toothed design makes it a requisite for today’s engines, as it can power different accessories at once. This is essential in modern engine bays where space is restricted, as opposed to multiple drive belts used mostly in outdated car models.

Keep reading: Understanding timing belt components and how to maintain it

Poly-V belts are now made of high-quality reinforced rubber, (EPDM) Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer rubber ensuring a long service life. Although like timing belts, these are also subject to wear, so they will deteriorate over time.

As the auxiliary drive belt is naturally long, it is wise to have idler pulleys and/or a tensioner pulley in it. These keep the belt tensioned so that it does not deviate from its direction, and so that it applies the exact friction to the pulleys.

Difference between auxiliary belt and timing belt

Understanding the distinction between the auxiliary drive belt and the timing belt is important:

• Timing Belt: Synchronizes the movement of the camshaft and crankshaft to ensure proper engine operation, and failure can cause catastrophic engine damage.
• Auxiliary Drive Belt: Powers accessories like the alternator, power steering pump, and air conditioning. A failure will disrupt accessory function but generally won’t damage the engine itself.

Article of interest: 5 warning signs it’s time to replace the timing belt

What happens when the auxiliary belt breaks?

When a car’s auxiliary drive belt breaks, all the accessories that depend on it will stop working or not work as they should. This can lead to various issues, including:

• Loss of power steering to A/B escape, making the vehicle difficult to control.
• Air conditioning failure, resulting in a lack of cool air.
• Battery drain, as the alternator stops charging the battery.
• Engine overheating if the water pump is driven by the belt.

Unlike a broken timing belt, a broken poly-v belt will not directly cause catastrophic engine damage, but can still cause significant inconvenience and safety risks.

Problems associated with auxiliary drive belts

Serpentine belts can fail due to various reasons, including:

1. Belt wear: Over time, the belt’s rubber material deteriorates.
2. Misalignment: Often caused by worn pulleys or tensioners.
3. Contamination: Oil or coolant leaks can weaken the belt material.

Complete belt failure is often the result of ignoring these problems. The most serious complications occur when the drive belt breaks completely as a result of a belt in poor condition, or a problem associated with one of the components driven by the belt; for example, a failure of a bearing in a pulley.

Signs of a malfunctioning auxiliary drive belt

When inspecting the poly-v belt, pay attention to the following indicators in order to confirm whether the drive belt needs replacement:

• Deep cracking and wear in the ribs and spine of the belt.
• A shiny, glazed and/or frayed appearance showing signs of age
• A hardened surface showing a substantial loss of flexibility.
• Belt contamination with oil or coolant due to other vehicle issues.

Although all these potential issues can be easily detected during a routine inspection, every auxiliary belt car has its unique characteristics. For instance, an EPDM belt will not crack like traditional neoprene rubber belts and will need to have the rib valleys inspected with a belt wear gauge. So, take each individual model into consideration.

Keep learning: Car temperature: Key aspect in a vehicle’s performance

Consequences of a malfunctioning aux belt

Failure in an auxiliary drive belt can cause many different consequences on your engine and can be potentially dangerous. When inspecting the auxiliary drive belt system, pay attention to the following signals to confirm if the drive belt needs to be replaced:

• Difficulty in steering the vehicle or no power steering at all.
• Engine overheating and unstable marks showing on the temperature gauge.
• A malfunctioning air conditioning with no cool air blowing out from the vents.
• A dying battery that will eventually die without the alternator’s charge.
• Squealing sounds in the front area of the car and/or a whine from the engine.

These problems can escalate quickly, so timely maintenance is essential.

Dolz: the perfect dealer of auxiliary drive belts

Dolz has been providing top-notch, OE-equivalent parts for passenger cars, trucks and commercial vehicles since 1934. With nearly 90 years of knowledge and experience, our presence has now expanded to more than 70 countries around the world.

Following our mission and completing our wide range of transmission products, we recently introduced our range of auxiliary drive kits available for dealers and workshops around the globe. Designed and produced following OE specifications, our kits offer greater engine performance and comfort.

In order to make your life easier and to secure effortless replacements, these kits include all the necessary components for a professional repair, all in one single package: 

• V-ribbed belt or auxiliary drive belt
• Pulleys and idlers
• Drive tensioners 
• All the necessary accessories when needed.

Contact us so that we can facilitate a tailored solution, as well as guidance throughout the whole selection process.

La entrada Auxiliary drive belt: What is it and why should you care? se publicó primero en Industrias Dolz.

This belt should not be confused with the timing belt, which serves a completely different purpose. The auxiliary drive belt’s role is to power a variety of important peripheral components via a system of pulleys driven by the main crankshaft pulley.

Although auxiliary belts do not usually break without first giving many warmings, they can have different faults that are not always easy to diagnose. Keep reading to learn how to discover bad drive belt symptoms and inspect your accessory belt wear.

How to diagnose and inspect your accessory belt wear.

Among the most obvious symptoms of failure, we find the hardening of the power steering or the failure in the battery of our vehicle. To detect signs that the accessory belt begins to wear out or the timing belt requires replacement, it will always be It is necessary to visually inspect this key component.

Being made of flexible materials, side wall wear is inevitably over time. Therefore, among the signs of wear on the accessory belt we find:

• Wear and loss of material in the ribs of the belt, increasing the space between the ribs.
• A shiny, glazed and/or frayed appearance showing signs of age.
• Abrasion and hardened surface showing a substantial loss of flexibility.
• Belt contamination with oil or coolant due to other vehicle issues.

Although all these potential issues can be easily detected during a routine inspection, every auxiliary belt car has its unique characteristics. For instance, an EPDM belt will not crack like traditional neoprene rubber belts and will need to have the rib valleys inspected with a belt wear gauge. So, take each individual model into consideration. 

When should the accessory belt drive system be replaced in your car?

In the auxiliary drive system, all the elements are subject to wear, and this directly influences the performance of the accessory belt, which is the heart of the entire gear.

An auxiliary belt has a very variable useful life depending on the use of the vehicle and its replacement can be due to different factors. The three main common causes for the replacement of the auxiliary drive system are:

• Failure or breakage of the auxiliary belt drive.
• Failure of one of its peripheral elements as tensioner, pulleys, water pump…
• Preventive maintenance of the system.

The accessory belt, tensioners and pulleys must work optimally together, so it is recommended to replace all the components subject to wear simultaneously to guarantee the best long-term performance and extend the useful life of the auxiliary drive system.

Tech Info on how to replace the accessory belt drive system: Auxiliary Drive Kit installation: a step-by-step guide

Dolz Expert Tip: Preventive Maintenance

Each manufacturer lists auxiliary belt replacement intervals in their maintenance manual, and the first step to maximum service life begins by strictly following the manufacturer’s recommended replacement interval.

Therefore, from Dolz we always recommend:

• Perform maintenance as scheduled with the vehicle manufacturer and replace components before they wear out and cause further damage to the vehicle.
• Check the warranty sheet provided with the distribution kit; usually available in an e-format with a QR code located on the box.
• Always follow the specifications of the vehicle manufacturer in terms of tightening torques, tension of the belt etc.
• Select exclusively those manufacturers that are ISO9001 certificate, to ensure the highest quality in all components.

With the increase in the useful life of vehicles, these interventions have now become part of regular maintenance. Choosing a trusted manufacturer and distributor will be essential to obtaining the desired result.

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Dolz, your trusted dealer since 1934

With a long history in the aftermarket, Industrias Dolz, with nearly 90 years of experience, provides its customers with the best solutions, offering excellent quality, service, and innovation.

Dolz only uses selected materials for the highest quality in its production. Among the main benefits of our Dolz Kits, we find:

• Increased mechanical efficiency of the engine.
• 100% tested ensuring robustness and reliability.
• OE Quality equivalent.
• High resistance to bending changes providing greater stability.

In addition, in our product offer you will find a wide range than include more than 230 timing belt kits and also the most complete timing chain kits on the market. If you are interested, contact us to obtain personalized advice on how to choose the best option for your replacement.

And remember, all our references are available for workshops and distributors in the different electronic catalogs such as TecDoc and Sofinn.

…yes we have!

La entrada Diagnose Auxiliary Drive Belt: symptoms of wearing se publicó primero en Industrias Dolz.

These kits have been designed following the experience of original manufacturers such as Audi, Volkswagen, or Renault to offer a greater engine performance and a greater comfort.

All DOLZ kits meet existing OE quality and adaptability standards, designed with the latest technology for optimal performance. Also, they include all the necessary components for a professional repair, that is all components are delivered in one package: V-ribbed belt or auxiliary belt, pulleys and idlers, drive tensioners all the necessary accessories depending on the vehicle application.

Dolz only uses selected materials for the highest quality in its production. Among the main benefits of our Dolz Kits, we find:

• Increased mechanical efficiency of the engine.
• High resistance to bending changes providing greater stability.
• The auxiliary belt that allows to transfer a substantially higher torque.
• Optimum design for maximum efficiency. A perfect performance regulating and avoiding the excessive production of heat due to friction.

Our experience of almost 90-year history in the automotive sector allows us to offer a wide range of Auxiliary Drive Kits that will continue to expand and increase its car parc coverage.

La entrada Dolz announces the addition of its new Auxiliary Drive Kits product line se publicó primero en Industrias Dolz.