Symptoms of a Bad or Faulty Air Pump Belt

Check your car's air pump belt for cracks, large pieces of rubber, or abrasions on the outside.

The air pump is a common exhaust component found on many road vehicles, especially older vehicles with V8 engines. Air pumps serve to reduce emissions and are usually driven by an auxiliary engine belt. As is common with most car belts, they are made from rubber that wears out and eventually needs to be replaced.

Since the air pump belt drives the pump, the pump and therefore the entire air injection system cannot work without it. Because the air pump is an emission component, any problems with it can quickly lead to engine performance issues and even cause the car to fail an emissions test. Usually, a thorough inspection of the belt for any visible signs can quickly tell the driver that the belt needs to be replaced.

1. Cracks on the belt

Belt cracks are one of the first visual signs that an air pump belt needs to be replaced. Over time, with constant exposure to strong heat from the engine and contact with the pulleys, cracks form on the ribs of the belt and on its ribs. Cracks are permanent damage to a belt that weakens its structural integrity, making the belt more prone to breakage.

2. There are no large pieces of rubber on the belt.

As the AC belt continues to wear, cracks can form next to each other and weaken the belt to the point where entire pieces of rubber can come off. Any places along the belt ribs where the rubber has come off are significantly weakened, as are places along the belt where it is more likely to break.

3. Scuffs on the outside of the belt

Another sign of an excessively worn AC belt is fraying along the edges or on the outside of the belt. This is usually caused by a misaligned belt on a pulley or contact with some debris or engine component. Some abrasions can cause the belt thread to loosen. Loose threads along the edges or outer surface of the belt are clear signs that the belt needs to be replaced.

The belt is what directly drives the A/C compressor, which pressurizes the entire system so that the A/C can run. If the belt fails, your AC system will be completely shut down. If your AC belt has failed or you suspect it may need to be replaced, have a professional technician like one from AvtoTachki have the vehicle inspected and the air pump belt replaced to restore and maintain the vehicle's AC system working properly. .