Snake in the Engine (Serpentine Belt)

January 8, 2023

There's a belt that snakes through your engine. It's even named for a snake, the serpentine belt. It'll bite you when it breaks, possibly leaving you stranded. So, it's good to know a little about this snake-like belt. In early engines, there were lots of belts. They were used to convert the r... More

Appleton Car Owners Ask: Why Do I Need to Change My Serpentine Belt?

August 21, 2022

Any Appleton driver who understands preventive maintenance knows that if it ain't broke, don't fix it is bad auto advice. Replacing a part before it breaks is much less costly for Appleton residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this i... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton: Serpentine Belt Overview

February 26, 2018

The technicians at Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton know your serpentine belt drives important engine accessories like your alternator, air conditioning compressor, and power steering. In some cars it may also power the power brakes or water pump. The serpentine belt is powered by the en... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton: Serpentine Belt Tensioner

January 29, 2018

The serpentine belt tensioner applies pressure to the serpentine belt, maintaining optimal tension to drive the accessories like the alternator and A/C compressor. At Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton we know that the service life of the belt tensioner is the same as the belt itself, so t... More

Automotive Tips from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton: Serpentine Belt System Wear

May 23, 2017

The primary job of the serpentine belt for Appleton drivers is to provide important traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at optimal speeds. For example, if your alternator doesnt spin fast enough, the battery will not compl... More

Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Center Appleton Smart Car Care Videos: Serpentine Belt System Wear

January 21, 2016

The primary job of the serpentine belt is to provide important traction to spin the accessories. As the belt wears it loses some of its grip and the accessories may not spin at optimal speeds. For example, if your alternator doesnt spin fast enough, the battery will not completely ... More