Do you ever get confused when you hear a loud screeching sound erupt from your Nissan’s engine or ever feel that your car AC is not as efficient as before? These may be signs of drive belt trouble; a fairly common problem that can shift your car’s performance from hero to zero. Known as serpentine belts, drive belts play a very important role in your Nissan by turning some of the key parts of the vehicle including the alternator, air conditioning compressor, or power steering.
Once these belts start to wear out, you might experience a host of problems from simple sounds to major complications. Let’s look at how to spot a problem with the drive belt, and what can be done about it, or even better, how to avoid those problems.
Signs That Your Drive Belt Is Worn Out
- Squealing Noise: A worn-out drive belt is characterized by a squealing sound most especially when the car is being started or when the accelerator is pressed. This sound is heard when the belt slips off the pulleys or when it is wrongly aligned.
- Flickering Battery Light: If the drive belt is not in good condition, the alternator may not put a good charge on the battery. This can cause the battery light on the dashboard to appear.
- Weak Air Conditioning or Power Steering: A deteriorating drive belt can make the air conditioning compressor work less effectively leading to a weak AC. Similarly, if the power steering pump is not fully operational, you may have problems when it comes to turning the wheel.
- Visible Damage on the Belt: Routine Maintenance should involve a check on the drive belt so as to see if it has stretched or is cracked, frayed, or shiny. Any of these problems, if observed, should be attended to by replacing the belt before it becomes dysfunctional fully.
What to Do When Your Drive Belt is Failing
- Examine the Belt: The first step is to look at its physical appearance, just to see if you can spot any visible damage. There may be signs of cracking, fraying, or a surface that looks too shiny and glazed. If you are not quite sure what a healthy belt should look like, you should check your car’s manual or speak to your mechanic.
- Modify Belt Tension: If the belt looks slack there might be a need to tighten it. It is possible to come across cars having automatic tensioners, but others may require manual adjusting, whichever the case, make sure you adjust the belt because if it is too loose or too tight, it can wear out faster. However, if the tension doesn't change anything or the problem persists, then replacement is the ultimate solution.
- Replace Drive Belt: If the belt is old or worn out, replacement is normally the best way to go. The drive belts usually require replacement every 60,000 to 100,000 miles but this changes with certain car models and their usage. It is generally easy to install a new drive belt, but if you’re not really sure how to do it, it is advised to seek help from an expert and not ruin the belt further.
How To Increase The Lifespan Of Your Nissan’s Drive Belt
As with all belts, drive belts eventually degrade and need to be replaced; however, there are things that can be done to make the belts last a little longer. You should take your drive belt for inspection during the regular service checks so that you can determine the degree of wear. If a belt replacement is necessary, selecting a good quality belt from a reliable manufacturer can guarantee durability and efficiency.
Come To Import Specialty Service For Your Nissan’s Drive Belt Repairs
At Import Specialty Service, we understand 
the importance of keeping your Nissan’s drive belt as healthy as possible in Nashville, TN. We have a crew of competent mechanics who have all of the necessary knowledge and skills needed to address all issues relating to drive belts, including simple diagnostics and complete replacement.
Our main objective is ensuring that your Nissan stays protected, reliable, and efficient throughout the times that you will be on the road. We have been able to establish ourselves as a leading service provider for all Nissan repair services in Nashville over the years and this is all thanks to our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. If you have any squealing drive belts or other issues, don’t let it worsen—bring your Nissan to us for professional help to make sure your vehicle delivers optimal performance every single time. Contact us now!