Belt & Hose Repair Service

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Keep your connections strong.

The belts and hoses in your car’s engine are basically the connections that keep major systems in your car — cooling, charging and air conditioning — working properly. The bottom line is, like the ligaments in your body, they might be small but they’re very important to keeping everything running smoothly in sync. The good news is Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers will inspect all your car’s belts and hoses during the complimentary 20-point courtesy inspection included with our signature 10 minute oil change.

What types of belts and hoses are found in most vehicles?

• Timing belt – This rubber belt, or sometimes metal chain, is connected to the camshaft and crankshaft and synchronizes the two so your engine’s valves open and close at the right time. Let’s just say it’s more than important and if it isn’t working, neither is your car.

• Serpentine belt – Also known as the drive belt, this is a long rubber belt that connects and powers several key parts of your engine including the alternator, air pump, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioning compressor and more. Trust us, you don’t want a broken serpentine belt either.

• Hoses – The hoses in your car deliver fluids such as gas, coolant and power steering fluid to the appropriate parts of your engine. For example, the fuel hose delivers gasoline from the gas tank to the engine. Common hoses include the fuel hose, radiator hose, power steering hose and heater hose.

How often should belts and hoses be replaced?

Belts should be inspected once a month or, at minimum, with every oil change. Belts should be replaced approximately every 50,000 miles or if there are 10 or more cracks in a one-inch section of the belt.

Hoses should be inspected every three months, ideally with every oil change. Since inspecting hoses can be challenging — and even potentially dangerous — it’s wise to let the pros at Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers check your vehicle’s hoses. The lifespans of various hoses differ, but generally hoses should last between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

How do you know when your belts and hoses need to be replaced?

It might be time for a new timing belt if:

• Your car won’t turn over or it starts misfiring

• You hear a ticking noise coming from the engine

• You notice oil leaking from your engine

You need to have your serpentine belt checked if:

• Your power steering and A/C aren’t working

• Your engine overheats

• You hear squealing from the front of your engine

Bad hoses may be the culprit if:

• You notice leaking coolant (green), power steering fluid (red or amber), or fuel

• Your engine is stalling or overheating

• You’re having trouble starting your car

Making sure your belts and hoses are inspected regularly and changed when needed is essential to ensuring your car is running properly and safely. You can get the help you need with your car’s belts and hoses at any Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers location. In your engine, kind of like in life, you want to make sure your connections stay strong.