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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
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.

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".

Tagyoureit · 07/09/2025 23:01

No, never!

Screen wash and oil is my limit!

MYOB12 · 07/09/2025 23:02

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

MargaretThursday · 07/09/2025 23:03

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

BatchCookBabe · 07/09/2025 23:04

What's a fan belt?

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.

Arlanymor · 07/09/2025 23:06

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

Chobby · 07/09/2025 23:06

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

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:
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.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 07/09/2025 23:44

And most cars these days have electric fans and don’t have a fan belt. Even non electric cars.

I remember driving a Vauxhall cavalier to zermatt and the sensor for the electric fan went and dh screwed some sort of switch into the fan which came through a cable out of the dashboard and when the engine temp got too high you had to flick the toggle. I accidentally crushed the toggle switch into the door when closing it and had to replace the switch with a screw and drive along screwing the screw in to make contact and turn the fan on 🤣🙈

Worralorra · 07/09/2025 23:48

Good luck with checking anything (apart from battery and screen wash) under the bonnet of most modern cars - since the early 2000’s most car engine bays have a shiny non-removable cover over the majority of it…
Was the roadside assistant chap 80?

AquaFurball · 07/09/2025 23:52

Yes. Check tyres, oil, coolant, screen wash, wipers, handbrake, brakes, exhaust, lights and engine noise plus check for signs of rust regularly too.

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 07/09/2025 23:53

Worralorra · 07/09/2025 23:48

Good luck with checking anything (apart from battery and screen wash) under the bonnet of most modern cars - since the early 2000’s most car engine bays have a shiny non-removable cover over the majority of it…
Was the roadside assistant chap 80?

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.

Arlanymor · 07/09/2025 23:54

YanTanTetheraPetheraBumfitt · 07/09/2025 23:40

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.

Show quote history

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.

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.

Elbowpatch · 08/09/2025 00:06

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.

Show quote history

If your car has an IC engine, it is virtually guaranteed to have an accessory drive belt turning things like the alternator, water pump and air conditioning compressor.

Original poster
HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 00:08

Genuine question, if the fan belt went despite yearly servicing, might that suggest there is something else wrong with the car, or that the garage should be changed?

OP posts:
DoormatBob · 08/09/2025 00:09

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.

Show quote history

It is nothing to do with Timing Chain Vs Cam Belt and your car almost certainly has one if it is petrol or diesel engine.

As another poster said they don't drive the fan anymore (since 80s/90s) so are now called an Auxiliary Belt. Drives the alternator and air con compressor.

Snugglemonkey · 08/09/2025 00:10

I drive a tesla. I am pretty sure I have no engine, let alone a fan belt. There's definitely a battery. I have nothing to do with that other than charging.

Elbowpatch · 08/09/2025 00:13

HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 00:08

Genuine question, if the fan belt went despite yearly servicing, might that suggest there is something else wrong with the car, or that the garage should be changed?

It could mean seized accessories like the air conditioning compressor, coolant pump, power steering pump, alternator or guide/tensioner wheels.

But you would probably notice problems with any of those before the belt broke. Any of them could have had a fault develop since the last service.

DoormatBob · 08/09/2025 00:14

HundredAcreOwl · 08/09/2025 00:08

Genuine question, if the fan belt went despite yearly servicing, might that suggest there is something else wrong with the car, or that the garage should be changed?

Quite rare for an aux belt to fail unless very old and lack of servicing. Would not expect a bigger fault but when you change it any reputable mechanic would change the tensioner at the same time.

It is not repairable with a pair of tights like an old fan belt.

WalkDontWalk · 08/09/2025 00:29

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

EBearhug · 08/09/2025 00:34

Don't have one, but didn't check in previous cars which did. In any case, I'm rarely wearing stockings when I'm driving about, so wouldn't be able to change it if it went.