Fix It

Knowing when to replace the drive belt on your car can save you thousands of dollars in repair costs. There is no "quick fix" should your drive belt break from too much wear and tear. Regularly check the belt to avoid getting stranded -- and monster repair bills. Serpentine belts, standard V-belts and "cogged" V-belts are the three main types used.

Serpentine Belt

Controlled by a belt tensioner or an idle pulley, the serpentine belt is also known as the "poly-V-belt." According to an article on the Engine Blox website, this belt was named from its flexible nature, allowing it to "snake" around pulleys. The belt is wide and can withstand higher tension than older belts, reducing stress on the engine and boosting gas mileage. A serpentine belt needs to be replaced every five years or 50,000 miles, according to AA1Car.com. Most new cars include a diagram under the hood that explains how to replace it.

Standard V-belt

The V-belt is a half inch wide. Narrower than the serpentine belt, it is typically found on older automobiles. Its tapered sides fit between pulleys or gears and it works best with light loads, since the flat base does not rotate gears precisely. A standard V-belt should be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles, and replacement costs roughly half the price of a serpentine belt, according to International Auto Repair.

Cogged V-belt

The cogged belt is similar to the standard V-belt, except that it has grooved base. These grooves allow a firm grip on gears and engine accessories, making the belt ideal for high-load applications. As does the standard V belt, the cogged belt should be replaced every three years or 36,000 miles.

Working on a car can sometimes be inconvenient, especially if the parts that need replacing or examining are underneath the vehicle and too close to the ground to easily access. Elevating the car with an automobile lift is one way to get at many automotive problems without twisting your arm and craning your neck to see whats happening. Fortunately these lifts arent hard to use.

Instructions

1

Drive the vehicle onto the lift. Some lifts have rails that you have to park the tires on, while other lifts have a cage that will grab the vehicle by the frame to support its weight. Once the vehicle is in place, put it in park.

2

Press the lift button. This will get the lift moving and it will begin to raise the vehicle up. Keep a careful eye on the vehicle as its lifted to make sure it isnt rocking or tilting, and make sure that its rising steadily rather than jerking up.

3

Stop the lift. Either take your hand off the lift button and the lift will stop, or push the actual stop button once the lift is in place. When the vehicle is in the air and the lift has a good hold of it, youre ready to get to work on the car.