BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
"100 years of combined experience in the automotive industry"
We Service All Makes & Models
Your Neighborhood Full Service Repair Facility
Financing Available
Fleet Service on Cars & Truck Repair
October 13, 2019
Any Homer Glen 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 Homer Glen residents than repairing the engine damage that comes after a part breaks or fails. A good example of this is the serpentine belt.
The serpentine belt gets its name because of its circuitous path around the engine. The serpentine belt is driven by the engine and powers a number of systems, as follows:
1. The serpentine belt spins the compressor that generates the cool air for the air conditioning system.
2. The serpentine belt powers the alternator. The alternator generates electricity for use in the vehicle's electrical systems and to charge the battery. Without the alternator, the battery wouldn't last more than a few miles.
3. In many Homer Glen residents' vehicles, the serpentine belt runs the pumps for both the power steering and the power brakes. In other vehicles, the power steering pump may be electric and the power brakes may use a vacuum boost.
4. On many vehicles, the serpentine belt powers the water pump. The water pump keeps coolant circulating through to maintain appropriate operating temperatures. In some Illinois vehicles, a timing belt runs the water pump.
When a serpentine belt fails, all of these systems fail as well, which can lead to engine impact.
Replacing parts before they break saves money for Homer Glen residents by preventing more repairs and the frustration of having your vehicle in the shop for an extended period of time. If you're looking for an adage to apply to good car care, you might remember the old story of how “for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost.”
Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Homer Glen
15743 S Bell Rd
Homer Glen, Illinois 60491
708-301-8885
April 21, 2024
When you turn on the air conditioning in your vehicle, you expect cool air to come out of the vents. You depend on it, especially in hot weather, but it can also be important in humid weather when you need it to help defrost your windows and windshield. The air conditioning system has a lot of p... More
April 14, 2024
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
April 7, 2024
Today's report from Tuffy Tire & Auto Service Homer Glen is on vehicle batteries, why they die and what we can do to lengthen their life. Most of us have had a dead battery at one time or another. In fact, it would be very unusual if you hadn't. You may be surprised to learn that only 30 percent ... More
