De lower belt slightly cracked

[Rob350]

The smaller lower belt at the front of the engine bay has got about 4 small cracks across the width of the belt.

What does this belt run?

[Strudul]

Just AC.

 

Mines been cracked for the past few months, but changed it yesterday.

 

Changing the belt is easy, but getting the undertray off can be a massive bitch.

 

No real problems if it snaps - you just won't be able to use the AC (you can still use everything else in terms of setting the blowers to hot / cold, but pressing the AC button won't do anything).

 

There is a potential risk that if it snaps it could take out the other belt (for your alternator and water / power steering pumps), which will give you a problem, but that probably won't happen. Just cut it off if you don't feel like taking the chance though.

Edited November 26, 2016 by Strudul

[Rob350]

Cheers mate thanks for the info, I were getting a bit nervous lol how much was the belt?

[Strudul]

£9.39

 

The other belt is about the same price, and you have to remove that one to get to your AC belt anyway, so if it's looking a bit past it too, you might wanna do them both together.

 

My alt belt looked pretty new, so I only did the AC belt.

Edited November 26, 2016 by Strudul

[taybo]

According to Haynes, small cracks across the belt should not be an issue. As long as the cracks aren't linear or the grooves aren't chewed up.

[docwra]

Id get it done myself, if it takes the alternator belt out and you dont notice you will be stopping unexpectedly somewhere and not starting again until someone brings you a battery. And its a bit cold for that atm .........

[Strudul]

Yeh, for the sake of a tenner and 30 mins, you may as well just change it.

 

Either that or cut it if you don't need your AC.