Smart alternator belt replacement, made easy
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How much does a alternator belt replacement cost for Smart cars?
Car model | Fixter price range |
---|---|
Alternator belt replacement for Smart City Coupe | £47 - £73 |
Alternator belt replacement for Smart Forfour | £47 - £73 |
Alternator belt replacement for Smart Fourtwo | £45 - £70 |
Alternator belt replacement for Smart Roadster | £47 - £73 |
Alternator belt replacement for Smart Roadster Coupe | £45 - £70 |
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Our expert insights into alternator belt replacement
What does an alternator belt do?
The alternator belt’s job is to transfer power from the engine crankshaft to various other components; these include the alternator (of course), the air conditioning and the power steering.
What are the symptoms of a malfunctioning alternator belt?
Below are the top three symptoms that could indicate you need an alternator belt replacement:
A squeaking sound from under the bonnet when you start your engine, or a high-pitched squeak while the engine is running.
If your car stalls regularly, or the engine refuses to turn over, it could be down to a slipping or broken alternator belt.
If you feel your car’s steering is heavier than normal, this could be due to a lack of power transferred to the power-steering system, and could also be down to the improper performance of your alternator belt.
What happens during an alternator belt replacement?
Our certified mechanics will:
Visually inspect the alternator belt for signs of wear, tears and cracks.
Check the alternator belt's pulleys and tensioner.
Replace the belt, if necessary.
Check related parts and advise if any other repairs are needed.
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Upfront, fair pricing, with free collection & return and no hidden costs. Our in-house experts will then choose the ideal garage to work on your car.
A fully-insured Fixter driver will pick up your car, whenever and wherever works for you. (If you’d prefer to drive your car to the garage yourself, that’s not a problem!).
Our in-house experts will keep you updated, and your card is only charged once all work has been satisfactorily completed and approved by our team. Your driver will then drop the car back when it’s convenient for you.
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Want to learn more about Smart alternator belt replacement?
What does an alternator belt do?
An alternator belt is known by many names including the drive belt, v-belt or a serpentine belt.
Alternators are responsible for sustaining the charge of the battery so that it can power the electrical components of the vehicle. Without this key piece of equipment, the battery would die after only a short amount of driving. When an alternator is actively charging the battery, it must be constantly spinning. This spinning is made possible by the alternator belt which runs from the pulley on the alternator to the crankshaft.
The alternator belt does a very specific job and without it, the alternator cannot provide the constant charge the battery needs when the car is running. The alternator belt also drives the range of ancillary components used by the vehicle, which can include the car's power steering, air conditioning compressor, water pump and in some cases, the cooling fan. In most cars, if the water pump and oil pump are left to fail or malfunction, it can lead to severe or fatal engine damage.
Made of rubber, the belt is prone to deterioration over time, and due to its position next to the engine, excessive heat and general wear will lead to a brittle drive belt that is prone to cracking. It’s an essential part of the healthy running of your engine, so it’s imperative it’s in good condition.
Smart
Smart is a German automotive brand, established 25 years ago in 1994.
The company is a division of the automotive corporation Daimler AG and operated under the ownership of Mercedes-Benz.
How popular is Smart in the United Kingdom?
Smart isnt’ the most popular brand in the UK, most likely due to appealing primarily to parking-challenged city-dwellers; there are only 96k of their vehicles on the roads of the UK today.
Showing steady growth, however, since their introduction to the UK market in 2003, the trend would suggest that we’re likely to see more of these eccentric looking tiny cars as time goes by.
Smart: Quirky little microcars and subcompacts
Owned by Mercedes-Benz, Smart cars fit into the market you’d expect on first glance. They’re a fun and funky little city car; they’re solid, middle of the road machines, designed to be as versatile as they look.
A Smart car will never fool anyone that it’s a hi-end, luxury vehicle. There’s plenty of glossy plastic and groovy fabrics, yet in the cockpit, you’ll find up-to-the-minute touchscreen media options at the controls. They do come at an inflated price for the small city car market, but by nature of their unique design—there’s nothing quite like them.
Smart cars are cheap to run—but not so cheap to buy
Your Smart ForFour will be more expensive by comparison than its rivals: the Fiat 500, Skoda Citigo, Kia Picanto or Hyundai i10—yet it’s rather hard to pitch the Fortwo against anything because there isn’t anything on the market quite so small. Only the Renault Twizy comes to mind, and that’s barely a car at all.
Once you’ve got one though, your Smart car will cost next to nothing to run with their tiny wheels and low weight. The electric models perform even better with a fuel equivalent of 87mpg.
How often does an alternator belt need replacing?
The average lifespan of an alternator belt is around 3-4 years, but can vary depending on how much you use your car. Heat from the engine can also make the alternator belt deteriorate more quickly, causing it to crack and tear. As the belt is constantly spinning, it can also become loose and won’t function properly.
What happens during an alternator belt replacement?
Our certified mechanics will:
Visually inspect the alternator belt for signs of wear, tears and cracks.
Check the alternator belt's pulleys and tensioner.
Replace the belt, if necessary.
Check related parts and advise if any other repairs are needed.
What causes an alternator belt to break?
Alternator belts are made of rubber, therefore the belt is prone to deterioration over time. Additionally, due to its position next to the engine, excessive heat and general wear will lead to a brittle drive belt that is prone to cracking and splitting. It plays an essential role in the healthy running of your car, so it’s imperative it’s in good condition.
When should an alternator belt be replaced?
Typically the lifespan of an alternator belt is around 3–4 years. It should be inspected during your annual vehicle service or whenever you have an oil change.
What are the symptoms of a broken alternator belt?
Usually, there a few signs you can look for:
A squeaking sound from under the bonnet when you start your engine, or a high-pitched squeak while the engine is running.
If your car stalls regularly, or the engine refuses to turn over, it could be down to a slipping or broken alternator belt.
If you feel your car’s steering is heavier than normal, this could be due to a lack of power transferred to the power-steering system, and could also be down to the improper performance of your alternator belt.
If any of your vehicle’s accessories stop working or the headlights and interior lights flicker or operate much dimmer than usual.
How to replace an alternator belt on your car?
To carry out an alternator belt replacement you must:
Open the bonnet and visually inspect the alternator belt for signs of wear, tears and cracks.
Check any parts connected to the alternator belt, such as pulleys and the belt tensioner.
Replace the belt, if necessary.
Check related parts and components to see if any other repairs are needed.
Can you drive with a bad alternator belt?
You should stop driving your car if you think there may be a problem with your alternator belt. Your alternator belt might not look like one of the most important components of your engine’s operation, but the role of every car’s drive belt is paramount to the healthy performance of your car’s engine.
What happens if you don't change a broken alternator belt?
Failure to spot when your alternator belt needs replacing or when it’s not quite performing up to scratch can ultimately lead to a seized engine brought on by a failed water pump or another integral part of the system. Therefore in order to save money in the long-run you should have your alternator belt replaced as soon as you think it may be failing.
Do alternator belts deteriorate with age?
Yes, because the belt is made from rubber it does wear out over time. The average lifespan of an alternator belt is around 3-4 years, but can vary depending on how much you use your car. Heat from the engine can also make the alternator belt deteriorate more quickly, causing it to crack and tear. As the belt is constantly spinning, it can also become loose and won’t function properly.
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