Engine Belt

Few items under the hood are more necessary--and under-appreciated--than belts and hoses.

But the factory-trained technicians at Maita Toyota's service center understand the importance that these unsung heroes play in your car running.

Your vehicle can’t go anywhere with a broken serpentine belt and turns aren’t so easy with a cracked power steering hose.

Simply put, maintaining and replacing belts and hoses is as important as routinely changing your oil.

Manufacturers typically recommend checking belts for cracks every 60,000 or 70,000 miles.

If an engine belt makes a squealing noise, there's likely a problem with its tension. Serpentine belt “tensioners” – pulleys on spring-loaded mounts – may need to be adjusted.

Most hoses need to be replaced at the 100,000-mile mark, although that number varies by vehicle make and model. Check your owner's manual for recommendations on servicing and replacing belts and hoses.