The many moving parts on your VW Atlas SUV wouldn't run right without the assistance of belts and hoses. Belts help those parts move, while hoses keep them from grinding into dust or overheating. Read on to learn more about what each does.

What Belts Do

There are three types of belts found throughout your full-sized SUV, excluding the seat belts. They are:

Timing belt: this belt features a V-shaped notch and help turn the engine's camshaft while ensuring that valves and pistons work in tandem. However, your Atlas only features one of those if it's a 2018 model; those produced since feature a more durable timing chain instead. That's good, since you can expect your timing chain to last the engine's full lifetime, whereas a belt can fail after about 100,000 miles of driving.

Serpentine belt: these work with your SUV's tensioner, idler pulley, and crank pulley to run such parts as the power steering and alternator.

Drive belt: your Atlas has more of these belts than the other two types. They work off the crank pulley, and help run parts like your radiator fan and water pump.

if your timing belt (or chain, in your case) breaks, you'll know at once since your engine will quit running. You can typically drive to the nearest safe spot should a serpentine or drive belt fail, allowing you some time to fix the problem before things get out of hand.

What Hoses Do

They're responsible for directing liquids to and from parts that need lubricating or cooling. For example, the coolant that resides in your radiator gets sent to the engine via inlet hoses, with outlet hoses routing the liquid back to the radiator for a cooling cycle. Air intake hoses do the same for the outside air that feeds internal combustion, while fuel hoses do the very same for the gas consumed during combustion.

What are the Signs of Faulty Belts or Hoses?

Here are a few:

Overly loose or slack belts

Belts that are too tight

Fraying belt edges

Cracks in the hose material

Large puddles of liquid under your Nissan

Screeching noises

Buy Volkswagen Atlas Belts and Hoses for Less at Piazza Volkswagen Parts

The best belts and hoses for your SUV are the ones that Volkswagen made for it. Not only do we carry them, but we also sell them at a discount of up to 35% off the MSRP others charge. Buy today and we'll ship your order right to your home.