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.

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

Nowadays, new environmental regulations and higher electrical demand push manufacturers to reduce the power losses of their engines, generating a challenge to the FEAD system functioning.

Specifically, the car’s auxiliary drive belt is a component that is often overlooked as a source of mechanical issues in aging vehicles. But even if an old serpentine belt looks good, the truth is that it has a limited lifespan, so replacing it with a new belt can save you money in the long run.  Thankfully, there are ways to improve the lifespan of the FEAD system.

Read about these methods of improvement below.

Understanding the front-end accessory drive components

In automotive accessory belt drive systems, the crankshaft delivers mechanical power to critical engine accessories. That is the alternator, the power steering pump, the A/C compressor, and (sometimes) the water pump.  As the belt needs to be really quite long you’re also likely to find an idler pulley, and/or a tensioner pulley in the mix.

• The poly-V belt is a composite made of elastomeric material layers, generally EPDM rubber, and a cord layer (fiber) and is used to drive the alternator and water pump by transmitting power from crankshaft pulley.
• Idler-pulleys are often used in this type of transmission to increase the wrap angle around the pulleys and are available in various shapes and sizes depending on the application.
• The pulley systems on modern engines typically use an automatic tensioner. The tensioner is a self-tensioning device that applies tension to the aux belt, helping keep it taught in the various operating conditions. Also preventing it from slipping or jumping off other components.

Auxiliary System Maintenance Tips

Proper front-end accessory drive maintenance is important to keep equipment running as efficiently as possible and to keep the various drive components from wearing prematurely. Here are some maintenance tips to ensure your system is in tip top condition:

1. As for when you need to replace these belts, there’s no hard-and-fast rule. It varies depending on the vehicle and the conditions under which you drive. But formost cars, it’s recommended that you get the serpentine belt inspected once your car reaches 60K miles. So, perform maintenance as scheduled with the vehicle manufacturer and replace components before they wear out and cause further damage to the vehicle.
2. Inspect the system to make sure all components are aligned. Use a laser alignment to ensure proper alignment.
3. Inspect belt and pulleys for signs of wear. Checking for cracks, fraying, splits or worn spots. Also, listen for unusual noises such as a chirping or squealing sound.
4. The tension of your serpentine belt is a critical factor in its performance and longevity. So, check the belt tension: it should be tight, with little or no give.
5. Replace all FEAD components at the same time. This helps prevent comebacks, reduces noise issues, and enhances overall system performance. In fact, replacing the belt alone rarely solves the customer complaint.

With these easy tips, you can maximize the lifespan and performance of your auxiliary drive system. Don’t forget to consult your vehicle’s manual or seek professional advice for specific maintenance procedures.

As we have pointed out on previous occasions the most obvious symptoms of failure of the auxiliary belt system are steering hardening, vehicle battery or A/C failure or humming in the engine. For this reason, it is important that you must be able to identify the signs of a defective FEAD system due to its importance to the functioning and comfort of your car.

Related content: Auxiliary Drive Belt Tensioner for hybrid applications: DOLZ SKD250A

DOLZ Auxiliary Drive Kits

In order to make your life easier and to secure effortless replacements, each OE-quality auxiliary drive belt kit includes all application-specific components needed to complete a front-end accessory drive (FEAD) system repair. All in one single package:

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

If you require any further information on any of our product lines, receive commercial information or technical product specifications (including assembly notes) don’t hesitate to contact us as we’ll be glad to be of help.

La entrada Quick Guide to Front-End Accessory Drive System performance se publicó primero en Industrias Dolz.

Dolz has launched the Auxiliary Drive Kit SKD250A suitable for hybrid vehicles equipped with a DW10 HY Hybrid engine and a BSG (belt start generator) system.

In this article, we focus on the operation of the auxiliary drive belt tensioner of this kit and its features. Keep on reading to find out more.

Auxiliary drive belt tensioner

As mentioned earlier, the drive belt tensioner is a high precision element designed, as its name suggests, to optimize the tension of the accessories belt and prevent future breakdowns in the other elements such as the alternator or the water pump. It also dampens vibrations caused by changes in engine load or auxiliary drives.

This new DOLZ tensioner allows the accessories belt to be maintained with the correct tension in both BSG system operating modes, both in its standard function where the poly-V/serpentine belt drives the alternator, and in the starting mode of the engine.

BSG (Belt Starter Generator) System

The BSG (belt-starter generator) system is designed to enable alternator torque to be transmitted alternately, in different directions. Through the poly-V belt, enables start-stop functionality, energy recovery when coasting or braking, and allows reducing fuel consumption and emission of CO2 by improving the alternator efficiency.

Thanks to its design, can take advantage of the different acceleration phases. So, when the vehicle is in energy recovery, the BSG operates as a generator that provides reverse power flow back to the battery.

Tech Info on how to replace the accessories belt drive system: Auxiliary Drive Kit assembly, step by step.

SKD250A Kit: Advantages of Drive Belt Tensioner

This poly-V belt tensioner is characterized by its dynamism, since it can optimize and adapt the tension based on the demands of the engine. As engines have grown more powerful, their energy requirements have increased as well. That’s why more complex components are required, capable of responding to current demands. Therefore, among the main advantages offered by the new DOLZ auxiliary belt tensioner we find:

• Designed to reduce both vibration and friction.
• Reduces belt wear while extending belt lifespan.
• Reduces polluting emissions and consumption.

At Dolz we work to provide our customers with this competitive advantage by accessing our high-quality Auxiliary Drive Kits.

Designed to ensure great engine performance, they follow premium standards from original manufacturers such as Audi, Volkswagen, or Renault and 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. Don’t forget it, we recommend to always check and replace, whenever necessary, all drive components, for the best maintenance activity.

Alternator pulley function plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the alternator and efficient energy transfer, which is important for maintaining proper system performance, especially in hybrid and high-efficiency engines.

Get in touch with us to learn more about our quality standards and proven benefits of our auxiliary drive belt kits.

La entrada Auxiliary Drive Belt Tensioner for hybrid applications: SKD250A se publicó primero en Industrias Dolz.