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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:
YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 07/09/2025 23:40

Arlanymor · 07/09/2025 23:06

My car doesn’t have a fan belt, it’s a chain.

I thought that fan belts were always fan belts and it’s timing belts which might be a chain….and these are the ones which should be replaced at a suggested mileage of they are a belt not a chain.

Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 07/09/2025 23:36

Today I learned that some cars have chains, and that electric ones have neither -
thanks everyone!

OP posts:
Chobby · 07/09/2025 23:06

I have a car, but it’s electric so no fan belt.

Arlanymor · 07/09/2025 23:06

My car doesn’t have a fan belt, it’s a chain.

Auroraloves · 07/09/2025 23:05

No, I have a 2008 car and have never had the fan belt changed, is this the same as the timing belt? I mentioned this to someone at work and they said I should get it checked out, which I did. Turns out my car doesn’t have a belt, it’s a chain.

BatchCookBabe · 07/09/2025 23:04

What's a fan belt?

MargaretThursday · 07/09/2025 23:03

No. They generally need replacing about ever 80k miles, so I go by that.

MYOB12 · 07/09/2025 23:02

Couldn’t tell you where it is or what it looked like! Been driving over 30 years!

Tagyoureit · 07/09/2025 23:01

No, never!

Screen wash and oil is my limit!

Isittimeformynapyet · 07/09/2025 23:00

Nope. I have my car serviced regularly.

My dad would definitely have included that in my "motoring checklist".

He was very disappointed when I stopped keeping a detailed record of my petrol consumption, as that "gives you a very good indicator of whether your car is running efficiently".

BlackboardMonitorVimes · 07/09/2025 22:59

I could not tell you where a fan belt even is, this is what I pay the garage for.