I finally drove my van through desert highways last fall, and the heat did a number on my belts

I was miles from any town when a screeching sound started under the hood. The serpentine belt had dried out and cracked from the constant high temps. I carry spares, but the idler pulley was shot too from the strain. Lots of folks forget that summer heat makes rubber parts fail faster than usual. Had to wait hours for a tow because I didn't check the pulley during my pre-trip look. Now I make sure to inspect all belts and pulleys for wear before any hot weather drive. It's a quick glance that can save you a long, expensive day stuck on the shoulder.

4 comments

4 Comments

the_tyler1mo ago

Yikes, did the heat mess with your AC compressor clutch too?

jade5171mo ago

Actually heat absolutely dries out the rubber and makes it brittle. I keep a can of belt dressing spray in my van now for long drives. It helps the belts grip and can quiet a squeal long enough to get somewhere.

jackson.faith16d ago

Wait, so @jamesr34 thinks it's just old parts? How many miles were on your van when the belt actually snapped?

jamesr341mo ago

Seriously? How often do belts really fail from just heat though? @the_tyler brings up the AC clutch, but that stuff lasts for years. Sounds more like the parts were old and you got unlucky, not that the desert sun is some belt killer.