Belts and hoses play an integral part in your vehicleās performance. As belts age, the rubber becomes brittle, causing it to crack. If the belt is showing signs of wear on its outer edge, this is also a sign that it will need to be replaced.
Since coolant temperature is about 200 degrees, the hoses that carry it are extremely important. A belt or hose failure can cause loss of both power steering and the electrical charging system, as well as an overheated engine. If your engine overheats, this can cause the cylinder heads to warp, resulting in a very expensive repair.
Hoses are generally inspected for softness and swelling, hardening, cracks, chafing and heat damage. If any of these issues are detected, your hoses will need to be replaced.