There are a number of belts that came factory installed on your Toyota vehicle. Some, such as your seat belts, you notice right away. There are many others, though, that help move the many parts at work when you're driving.

What Those Belts Do

There are two main types of belts under your hood. The first is the timing belt, or timing chain. It connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, moving both in sync with the pumping of the engine pistons. If it breaks, your engine's going to stop running right away.

The other type of belt you'll find is a serpentine, or drive belt. They move parts for your power steering, water pump, alternator, and more. If they should break, you can drive for a while before replacing them – but it's not advisable to go long with them in that condition.

How to Tell That a Belt Needs Replacing

It's best to make a regular habit of checking your belts to confirm that they're in working order. Look for signs of damage like:

Slack or loose belts
Cracked or frayed belts
A squealing noise from under the hood

When you need to replace a worn or broken belt, make sure that you choose the right type for the job. You also want to make sure that you order genuine Toyota belts, since they're the only ones that are guaranteed to be compatible with your model. You can order directly from the factory, thanks to our online auto parts center. Buy now and we'll arrange to have them shipped right to your door!