Belts and hoses
Mobile Belt, Hose and Timing Belt Replacement
A cracked belt or a soft, leaking hose can fail. A squeal can come from the belt, a pulley or the tensioner. Serpentine belts, hoses and timing belts are replaced at your home or workplace, on all makes and models.
- All makes and models
- $125 diagnostic, credited if you go ahead with the repair
- Nephi to Ogden, including Eagle Mountain and Heber
Which belts and hoses wear out
Belts and hoses are rubber parts that age with heat and time.
- Serpentine belt. One long belt on the front of the engine. It commonly drives the alternator, power steering pump and A/C compressor, and on many engines the water pump.
- Radiator and heater hoses. They carry coolant. They can crack, swell, go soft or leak.
- Timing belt. On engines that have one, it keeps the crankshaft and camshaft turning in step. It is a different part from the serpentine belt.
- Tensioners and pulleys. They keep the belt tight and guide it. They wear along with the belt, and a worn tensioner can make a new belt squeal.
Not every engine has a timing belt. Some use a timing chain instead, which runs inside the engine and is not on a regular replacement schedule the way a belt is. Which one your engine has depends on the make, model and year. Check your owner's manual.
Signs a belt or hose needs attention
- Squealing from the front of the engine. Often a loose, worn or glazed serpentine belt.
- Cracks or fraying on the belt. A belt that looks worn may be close to failing.
- A battery light or power steering that goes heavy. The belt may have slipped or broken.
- A hose that is bulging, soft or wet. It can burst.
- Coolant on the ground or the engine running hot. A hose or a connection may be leaking.
What belt and hose replacement costs
A serpentine belt is a smaller job than a timing belt, and on some engines the water pump is often replaced at the same time, because it sits behind the belt.
- Diagnostic
- $125On every job. Credited if you go ahead with the repair. Kept if you decline it.
- Travel
- $75 to $100Depends on distance and fuel. Charged in addition to the diagnostic.
- Repair
- By vehicle and laborThe price depends on your vehicle, the parts and the labor it needs.
When a belt job is bigger than it looks
A serpentine belt or a hose is a smaller job. A timing belt takes more room and care, and some engines make it harder to reach. If a timing belt has already broken and the engine was damaged, the repair can be large.
Questions
Questions about belt and hose replacement
Does my car have a timing belt or a timing chain?
It depends on the engine. Some engines use a rubber timing belt, and others use a metal timing chain. Your owner's manual lists which one your engine has and the replacement interval for a belt.
What happens if a timing belt breaks?
The engine stops running, because the belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in step. On some engines the valves can hit the pistons when this happens, which causes serious damage.
Why is my belt squealing?
Usually the serpentine belt is loose, worn or glazed, or a pulley or tensioner is failing. A worn tensioner can make a brand new belt squeal too, so the belt alone is not always the cause.
How do I tell a worn serpentine belt by looking?
Look for cracks across the ribs, fraying at the edges, a shiny glazed surface or missing chunks. A belt that shows any of these may be close to failing. Look only with the engine off.
Belt and hose replacement at your home or workplace
Call or text and say what you hear or see.