Posted on 6/27/2025
Your car relies on a series of rubber belts to keep critical systems running. The serpentine belt, timing belt, and others all play essential roles under the hood. These components drive everything from the alternator and power steering to the water pump and A/C compressor. While belts are designed to last tens of thousands of miles, they aren’t indestructible. Extreme summer heat can be especially hard on them. Many drivers overlook their belts until they start making noise—or worse, break entirely. By that time, your vehicle might already be stranded or suffering engine damage. Summer is the season when belt issues spike, so now is the perfect time to understand how heat impacts them and what you can do to stay ahead of potential problems. How Heat Damages Engine Belts Rubber is flexible, but it's also vulnerable to heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures causes belts to harden, crack, and lose elasticity. In places like Stockton, where summe ... read more