Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)

January 15, 2023

There's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the r... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Bloomington: Serpentine Belt Tensioner

October 2, 2022

The serpentine belt tensioner applies pressure to the serpentine belt, maintaining optimal tension to drive the accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor. At Tuffy Bloomington we know that the service life of the belt tensioner is the same as the belt itself, so they should always be rep... More

Bloomington Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?

January 23, 2022

Any Bloomington driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Bloomington residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of ... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Bloomington: Serpentine Belt System Wear

July 17, 2018

The primary job of the serpentine belt for Bloomington drivers is to provide important traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at optimal speeds. For example, if your alternator doesnt spin fast enough, the battery will not co... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Bloomington: Serpentine Belt Overview

June 5, 2017

The technicians at Tuffy Bloomington know your serpentine belt drives important engine accessories like your alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering. In some cars it may also power the power brakes or water pump. The serpentine belt is powered by the engine and winds around pu... More