Hose Repair

Why hoses and belts wear out first

The rubber hoses and belts that help your engine run are constantly heated, cooled, and stretched, so they wear faster than almost anything else under the hood.

What a failing hose or belt looks like

Belts and hoses can fail suddenly, with little warning. A squeal or whine from the engine that rises with engine speed is a common sign of a worn belt or tensioner. A damaged hose leaks, and a leak can harm the engine or make it run poorly. If you smell fuel, have it looked at immediately.

What we inspect

Most cars have a serpentine belt, also called the accessory drive belt. It uses engine power to turn the alternator, water pump, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor, and radiator cooling fan. Some engines also have a timing belt, which keeps the engine’s valves and pistons in time. If it breaks, the engine stops running, and on an interference engine internal parts such as valves can be bent. Check your owner’s manual for the timing belt interval.

The hoses we check include the radiator and heater hoses, the fuel hose, and the power steering hose.

If a coolant hose fails

If the temperature gauge climbs or a warning light comes on, pull over safely and shut the engine off. Do not keep driving an overheating engine. Have the vehicle towed in. A periodic inspection at any of our Long Beach or Bellflower shops can find a worn belt or a weeping hose before it becomes a breakdown.