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AIBU?

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Original poster

If you have a car, do you check the fan belt regularly?

86 replies

HundredAcreOwl · 07/09/2025 22:54

Half fun, half serious.

Our older child, 30s, their car wouldn't start. They had to work when the help could come out (one of AA, RAC, Green Flag), so their housemate gave the person the car keys. All was sorted, it was the fan belt, but the person said they should have checked it regularly, implying it was their fault. Their car is serviced every year with the MOT.

AIBU You check your fan belt, or someone does, apart from regular services
AINBU You ignore the fan belt until it goes

Rather wish there was a third option - showing my age - who keeps a pair of tights in the car in case the fan belt goes?!

Edited to correct perspective, and add the tights...

OP posts:
Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 21:16

YourElatedLimeShark · 08/09/2025 21:11

In my olden days I used a pair of tights when my fan belt went.

It was a thing...don't think my kids even have nylon tights!

OP posts:
YourElatedLimeShark · 08/09/2025 21:11

In my olden days I used a pair of tights when my fan belt went.

Mutability · 08/09/2025 21:11

I’ve never even opened the bonnet on any car I’ve owned.

Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 21:05

I did say it was half fun, half serious, thanks everyone! Both fulfilled, thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 20:58

WalkDontWalk · 08/09/2025 00:29

Tried to get interested. Found myself thinking of anagrams of ‘fan belt’.

Any results? We could include stockings and tights perhaps?

OP posts:
Mslongears · 08/09/2025 19:48

I don't, but I'm lucky enough to have a partner who knows everything there is to know about cars. Especially older ones, which we have many of. But I definitely wouldn't be expecting the majority to even know where to locate a fanbelt, let alone check it 😂

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 08/09/2025 19:32

CrushingOnRubies · 08/09/2025 18:33

in my old car it had a cam belt is that the same as a fan belt? And it was suggested at a service I got it done. Mentioned to dp about how my cam belt must be due replacing on my new car and he googled and said that this car had a chain instead. That’s as far as my knowledge about cars and belts goes

No a cam belt is the same thing as a timing belt.

unsync · 08/09/2025 18:51

Boutonnière · 08/09/2025 00:00

My first car was an elderly early style Mini, years ago - I had a weekly checklist for it and did a lot of basic servicing myself. My current car is an automatic Peugeot and I just top up the screen wash - modern cars don’t need the old style attention and are not designed to be maintained easily by the amateur without appropriate equipment .

My earlier self sufficiency does help when talking to the garage re repairs or checking the servicing bill.

Same. I used to carry jump leads, spare fan belt and a can of WD40 in the boot of my mini. WD40 was for when the spark plugs were damp so that it would start.

I also had a Triumph Spitfire. Removing the rotor arm from inside the distributor cap was my theft prevention device! Can't drive it away if it doesn't spark.

RedRiverShore5 · 08/09/2025 18:40

I know fan belts occasionally squeal if they are not happy, I also know that my poor car has a very expensive cam belt called a wet belt which unfortunately is due for a change.

Bjorkdidit · 08/09/2025 18:35

Shade17 · 08/09/2025 18:20

Tell me you know nothing about cars without telling me ….

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Why would anyone write all that about something they know so little about?

RedRiverShore5 · 08/09/2025 18:33

Back in the old days we used to check the fan belt, this was when DH used to change the oil, spark plugs and other stuff himself. Now we have services I would expect it to be checked in that.

CrushingOnRubies · 08/09/2025 18:33

in my old car it had a cam belt is that the same as a fan belt? And it was suggested at a service I got it done. Mentioned to dp about how my cam belt must be due replacing on my new car and he googled and said that this car had a chain instead. That’s as far as my knowledge about cars and belts goes

shellyleppard · 08/09/2025 18:28

My dad is a car mechanic and as soon as I got my licence I was taught car maintenance. So oil changes, fan belt tightening, tyre change...... still know how to after 40 years

Mikart · 08/09/2025 18:26

I check nothing

Shade17 · 08/09/2025 18:20

Arlanymor · 07/09/2025 23:54

Some engines are belt-driven, some have a durable timing chain. Mine has a durable timing chain, as is common with cars that have a 2.0 litre engine and above. But yes, fan belt engines will always be fan belt engines... as I said mine is durable - in the same way that my car has double vented brake discs and a dual mass flywheel. Other cars also have single vented brake discs and a single mass flywheel. These components are about the performance of the car and the spec you buy. I will never have that squealing noise that tells me my fan belt is about to go because I simply don't have one.

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Tell me you know nothing about cars without telling me ….

Thissickbeat · 08/09/2025 18:12

I've never checked mine. I do low mileage, drive sensibly and always get an annual service.

Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 14:46

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 07/09/2025 23:53

More to the point was the car 80? 😁. I used to have a 1972 Datsun 120Y which definitely had a fan belt which I could replace and also replace the spark plugs. Also had a 1985 VW T25 which I’m pretty sure had a fan belt but don’t think any car I’ve had since those have had one.

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Only 7 years old! And serviced yearly...

OP posts:
Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 14:40

Thank you everyone. Our older one's car is extremely important to them, representing independence, they do look after it. Some supposedly knowledgeable person criticising them for not doing so hit hard.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Mycatmyworld · 08/09/2025 14:33

chain is a timing belt, worlds apart

TheChosenTwo · 08/09/2025 14:30

I know how to put screen wash in and have done that myself, same for air in the tyres and obviously fuel. I know where the dipstick is but have never actually refilled with oil myself as I’ve never needed to do it.
In theory I know how to change a tyre (I’ve been shown!) but again I’ve never needed to do it.
Other than that, it’s going to a mechanic.
Don’t know where the fan belt is or what it might look like - if it’s broken I’m not trying to fix it myself!

FancyCatSlave · 08/09/2025 14:27

Mine doesn’t have one (electric).

But when I had one that did I left that to my brother - my brother is car mad and I delegated all routine car maintenance to him. He’s not a mechanic but can do brake pads, oil changes and all that for fun. He can’t do much on EV’s though.

Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 14:23

HesarealJacquelineHigh · 08/09/2025 14:17

Just saw your reply after I posted mine. Mine completely snapped recently, I also had to call out the RAC to recover my car to a garage. Mine is a 9 year old Ford Kuga and both the RAC man and the staff at the garage we used mentioned that it's a very common thing to happen with Fords

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Thank you for this. Mine is a rather older Beta Max, in for an MOT and service soon, I'll specifically ask them to check the fan belt - if I have one! I've learned so much from this thread!

OP posts:
mamagogo1 · 08/09/2025 14:23

Couldn’t tell you where it even is, the man does service it at the same time as mot, do they check fan belts? The only things I do are put petrol in and put washer solution in, twice a year or so the nice man at the garage checks my tyres

HesarealJacquelineHigh · 08/09/2025 14:17

HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 13:58

Agree completely if it's an old car. This is a 7 year old Ford Ka+, serviced yearly.

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Just saw your reply after I posted mine. Mine completely snapped recently, I also had to call out the RAC to recover my car to a garage. Mine is a 9 year old Ford Kuga and both the RAC man and the staff at the garage we used mentioned that it's a very common thing to happen with Fords

HesarealJacquelineHigh · 08/09/2025 14:13

A lot of people seem to be getting fan belt (now more commonly known as alternator or auxillary belt) confused with the cambelt/timing chain. They do completely different things

Anyway, the aux belt snapped on my car recently and I've never heard anything like it. Was lucky that it didn't do any damage as I pulled over straight away