Vehicle Systems Overview - Belts and Hoses

What are the belt and hoses?

A vehicle’s belts and hoses are essential elements of the cooling, air conditioning and charging systems of the engine.  When a belt or hose breaks down it can leave you stranded, so it is important to meet the set replacement intervals recommended in your owner’s manual.

What do belts and hoses do?

Timing Belt 

The timing belt is a notched rubber belt that allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. A timing belt is sometimes called a Gilmer belt or a camshaft drive belt. The camshaft opens and closes the valves in synchronized movement with the engine’s pistons.

Serpentine Belt

Serpentine belts, also known as drive belts, provide power to the air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, cooling fan, air injection pump, and more.

Coolant Hoses

Coolant hoses include the upper and lower radiator hoses plus heater hoses. Some cars include a bypass hose. Hoses provide a flexible connection for coolant flow between the engine, radiator, engine and heating block.

TYPICAL WEAR AND TEAR ON BELTS AND HOSES

Key items that affect the replacement interval for belts and hoses:

• Vehicle age;
• Electrolytic corrosion;
• Mileage;
• Oil contamination;
• Belt tension; and/or
• Failed hose clamps.

SYMPTOMS

• Squeaking noise from under the hood during start-up or operation;
• Coolant leaks;
• Dashboard light illumination;
• A/C system failure;
• Engine overheating; and/or
• Smell of burnt rubber.

The 2018 Hyundai Accent came out on top for maintenance and repair costs. Over the course of 5 years, customers would pay $3,002 to take care of their vehicle, or about $600 per year. Kelley Blue Book pegged repair costs at $553, with the costs of maintenance being $2,449 (all prices in U.S. dollars).

 Hyundai was named this year’s top brand for lowest total ownership costs, the second time it has finished on top since the program was created. Hyundai models won thanks to top marks in almost all categories, such as low repair costs and superior warranty program. Its Sonata model won in the mid-size car category, with the Elantra and the Accent coming in second place in the compact and subcompact car categories.

Acura took the win for the best luxury brand for the third year in a row, backed by its ILX and MDX models.

In particular, the 2018 ILX saw repair and maintenance costs come in at $3,521 over the first five years or $704 annually. Kelley Blue Book listed repairs at $1,154 and maintenance at $2,367.

Third place belonged to the 2018 Chevrolet Spark, which won for the best subcompact car. The maintenance and repair costs are estimated at $3,950 which would equal out to paying $790 a year. The repair costs amount to $1,869 with maintenance costs sitting at $2,081, according to Kelly Blue Book.

On average, in all 23 categories of the vehicle winners, the costs of repairs over the course of 5 years is around $1,550 with maintenance at $2,718 – or $4,268 combined.

The 5-year Cost to Own information takes into consideration the areas of the vehicle that people’s money goes into like depreciation, expected fuel costs, finance and insurance fees, maintenance and repair costs, and state fees. These categories are all areas that come into play when making a vehicle purchase.