Ask TLC Custom Exhaust Brakes & Tires: What Happens When a Serpentine Belt Breaks?
October 20, 2019
The serpentine belt is aptly named since it snakes around under your hood. It may lack its namesake's fangs, but it sure packs a wallop when it breaks.
The serpentine belt powers a lot of engine systems. It runs the alternator, which charges the battery; the water pump (on some vehicles), which cools the engine; the air conditioning, which cools the driver and passengers; and the power steering pump, which allows for easier steering. When the belt breaks, all of these systems shut down.
Okay, so maybe you can live without air conditioning and power steering for a while, but your battery can't live very long without an alternator, and when the cooling system goes down, your vehicle engine will overheat. That's why Royal Oak drivers should never wait to get a serpentine belt replaced.
Serpentine belts are fairly inexpensive at TLC Custom Exhaust Brakes & Tires in Royal Oak. And they look downright cheap when you compare them to the cost of an overheated vehicle engine, a tow truck, time lost on the road, inconvenience, and the potential safety consequences of being stranded.
Good car care means never putting off preventive maintenance. Do yourself a favor. Ask your friendly and knowledgeable TLC Custom Exhaust Brakes & Tires technician to glance under your hood and give that serpentine belt a quick look-over.
TLC Custom Exhaust Brakes & Tires
1735 N Main St
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067
248-541-8300
http://www.tlcautocareroyaloak.com
Need Service?
More articles from TLC Auto Care
TLC Custom Exhaust Brakes & Tires On Your Serpentine Belt
June 14, 2026
Today we're going to be talking about serpentine belts for our Royal Oak, Michigan, customers. Let's start by talking about the accessories that are driven by the serpentine belt. First is the alternator. That's the device that makes electricity to power the vehicle and recharge the battery. T... More
Flat Tire? Three’s the Charm (Tire Repair)
June 7, 2026
For most drivers, at some point youre going to have a flat tire. Depending on how it was damaged, it may have to be replaced. But sometimes, a repair will do the trick, as long as the puncture isnt on the sidewall and the hole is smaller than inch/6.35mm in diameter. Here are the three common w... More
Fuel Saving Tip: Royal Oak Tune Up
May 31, 2026
Have you ever gone to listen to an orchestra? The musicians take the stage early and tune their instruments. Each individual instrument must be in tune, but the critical thing is for the entire orchestra to be in tune with each other. That's why they tune up together.Now this is no surprise; I'm ... More