Posted on 9/15/2021
With so many car parts, it's hard for the average person to keep track of all the names. One of the most common confusions we see at our shop is between the vehicle belts. There is the serpentine belt and timing belt, and they both have very different roles in your vehicle. The timing belt can be found inside the engine and keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in sync. The timing belt ensures that the engine intake and exhaust valves open and close in time with the pistons to run smoothly. On the other hand, the serpentine belt is what keeps the engine accessories operating smoothly and efficiently. The serpentine belt connects the engine crankshaft on the outside of the motor to all of its accessories. You can immediately tell the distinction between the two belts when you look at the ribs on the belt. A timing belt has horizontal "teeth" that are made to fit both the crankshaft and camshaft. In contrast, a serpentine belt has multiple V-shaped grooves tha ... read more