The serpentine belt, also known as a multi-vee or multi-rib belt, is a single, continuous belt used to drive multiple peripheral devices in an automotive engine. These include the alternator, power steering pump, water pump, air conditioner and others. Without the serpentine belt, there is no way to drive power to any of these devices.…
Shock absorbers and struts influence the control and handling characteristics of your vehicle. They work in conjunction with springs to dampen the bouncing motion of the vehicle as affected by road conditions. The energy is absorbed as a piston inside the shock pushes against hydraulic fluid. This restricts the rebounding movement of the springs. Your…
A spark plug is a device that delivers an electric spark into the combustion chamber of your engine. It ignites the compressed mixture of fuel and air, causing the pistons to move up and down. The power from the pistons is what ultimately keeps your car moving. We recommend getting your spark plugs checked every…
Tie rods are attached to the steering rack. They play a critical role in helping push and pull the front tires as the steering wheel is turned. There are two tie rod ends, the inner and outer, which connect to the steering knuckle and turn the front wheels. The outer tie rod end is adjustable…
The timing belt synchronizes the cam and crankshafts in your engine and keeps the entire car running smoothly. For everything to work properly, the timing belt has to perfectly sync the valves with the motion of the pistons. To prevent the timing belt from failing, it should be replaced every 50 to 70,000 miles.…
