Checking the condition of the drive belts must be carried out in the following order.
- Put the car on the parking brake, turn off the engine, open the hood and let it cool down. Using a flashlight, run your fingers along the entire length of each strap, feeling for cracks or splits.
- Check straps for fraying and «bald patches» - places polished to a shine areas. Each belt must be inspected from both sides.
- Check the belt tension by pressing on it with your thumb and determining the degree of its deflection. The amount of deflection is measured with a ruler. rule «thumb» states that if the distance between the centers of the pulleys is from 180 to 280 mm, then the amount of deflection should be 6 mm, if the distance between the centers of the pulleys is from 300 to 400 mm, then the amount of deflection should be 13 mm. The V-belt is tensioned by an automatic tensioner and it is not necessary to check its tension during maintenance.
- Check the belt for dirt deposits, stones between the ribs and rubber growths at the base of the ribs. Check belt side wear (pic. 2.38, a), the new belt has trapezoidal ribs.
- Check the pulling branch of the belt (cord). When worn, it is visible at the base of the ribs (pic. 2.38, b). Determined by the presence of lighter places.
- Check for transverse cracks on the back of the belt (pic. 2.38. V).
- Check for detachment of individual ribs on the back of the belt (pic. 2.38, g).
- Check for fraying of the outer harnesses of the belt (pic. 2.38. e).
- Check the absence of lateral breaks in the harness (pic. 2.38, d).
- Check for broken belt ribs (pic. 2.38, and).
- Check the absence of breaks in individual transverse belt ribs (pic. 2.38, to).
- If one or more of the above defects are present, replace the belt. Check the belt for aging for small cracks.