When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
We had the oil consumption work done last year, September. In addition to that, we had them do the TB/WP and replace the alternator belt. Then in January of this year we had the alternator replaced.
Today as I was changing the engine air filter and going over the engine to see how much work was involved in changing the spark plugs myself, I noticed the belt in the photo I've added to this post. It is literally hanging on by a thread. Which belt is this? My gut says it's the alternator belt which we just had "replaced". Or is it something else? I need to know for sure before I go back up to the dealership to complain. Because if it is the AB, then they have some explaining to do. I may not know much about cars, but I'm pretty sure these belts, if new, are suppose to last a lot longer than 6 months.
I've noticed the car has been sluggish and not super responsive on the throttle. That's why I changed the air filter and will be replacing the spark plugs. But now I'm thinking this may be a contributing factor as well.
It is. Also called the "drive belt", it's the only belt in there that runs both the alternator and the AC compressor from the crank pulley.
There's no way in hell that belt is only 6 months old, unless something has been living in your engine bay and chewing on it. If you have records and the invoice showing they changed it, I'd definitely drive back and complain before you have to walk back and complain...
I just recently changed my 3.5 year old drive belt and it looked fine, but was reaching the end of its theoretical life.
Last edited by Riboflavin; Mar 11, 2020 at 07:42 PM.
I don't know about you but when I had the oil consumption fix done, new spark plugs were included in the fix. You should double check if they did the same for you. I thought it's standard across the board.
I don't know about you but when I had the oil consumption fix done, new spark plugs were included in the fix. You should double check if they did the same for you. I thought it's standard across the board.
Not standard. They gave us the option to pay a discounted price but I declined. Anyway, that's the least of my concerns right now.
It is. Also called the "drive belt", it's the only belt in there that runs both the alternator and the AC compressor from the crank pulley.
There's no way in hell that belt is only 6 months old, unless something has been living in your engine bay and chewing on it. If you have records and the invoice showing they changed it, I'd definitely drive back and complain before you have to walk back and complain...
I just recently changed my 3.5 year old drive belt and it looked fine, but was reaching the end of its theoretical life.
Good to know I'm not crazy. I'm pretty sure there aren't any critters living in our engine. I'm going to drive the car back to them ASAP and just hope and pray the belt doesn't explode on the way.
It's not even on correctly...it's one rib off. That explains it getting shredded. I'd try and get them to replace it free of charge...
I'm thinking I won't even bother with the dealer. They're too far away to risk driving out there at this point. There's a mechanic down the hill from me, I'll just have him replace it. Ugh! Stuff like this is why dealerships have such a bad reputation.
