COVID-19

NSW is currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.


Before making a booking, please confirm the below:


  1. No member of your immediate household or yourself has been in contact with someone who has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
  2. You do not currently have any flu like or respiratory symptoms - fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or loss of taste.
  3. Having reviewed the list of the latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW and other states, you have not been to a venue on a date and time that requires self-isolation.

Perth and Peel COVID-19 lock down

Perth and Peel have entered a minimum 4-day lockdown from 12:01am, Tuesday 29 June 2021 until 12.01am, Saturday 3 July, 2021

For more information, please visit https://www.wa.gov.au/government/announcements/4-day-lockdown-introduced-perth-and-peel


If you can answer yes to one of the questions below, you can continue with your booking


  1. Are you an essential service or critical service employee? (Essential service employees list can be found here.)
  2. Is the service you require a breakdown or emergency repair?
  3. Is this something that is a matter of safety and you believe it cannot wait until restrictions ease?


If you feel there are extenuating circumstances with your booking or need further assistance please call 13 30 32 for help as to whether we can be of service to you.

South-East Queensland COVID-19 lock down

South East Queensland has entered a COVID-19 lockdown


If you can answer yes to one of the questions below, you can continue with your booking


  1. Are you an essential service or critical service employee? (Essential service employees list can be found here.)
  2. Is the service you require a breakdown or emergency repair?
  3. Is this something that is a matter of safety and you believe it cannot wait until restrictions ease?


If you feel there are extenuating circumstances with your booking or need further assistance please call 13 30 32 for help as to whether we can be of service to you.

South Australia COVID-19 lockdown

South Australia has entered a COVID-19 lockdown.


If you can answer yes to one of the questions below, you can continue with your booking


  1. Are you an essential service or critical service employee?
  2. Is the service you require a breakdown or emergency repair?
  3. Is this something that is a matter of safety and you believe it cannot wait until restrictions ease?


If you feel there are extenuating circumstances with your booking or need further assistance please call 13 30 32 for help as to whether we can be of service to you.

COVID-19

Victoria is currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.


Before making a booking, please confirm the below:


  1. No member of your immediate household or yourself has been in contact with someone who has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
  2. You do not currently have any flu like or respiratory symptoms - fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, loss of smell or loss of taste.
  3. Having reviewed the list of the latest COVID-19 case locations in VIC and other states, you have not been to a venue on a date and time that requires self-isolation.

ACT COVID-19 lockdown

ACT has entered a COVID-19 lockdown.


If you can answer yes to one of the questions below, you can continue with your booking


  1. Are you an essential service or critical service employee?
  2. Is the service you require a breakdown or emergency repair?
  3. Is this something that is a matter of safety and you believe it cannot wait until restrictions ease?


If you feel there are extenuating circumstances with your booking or need further assistance please call 13 30 32 for help as to whether we can be of service to you.

Lube Mobile Hygiene Practices When Servicing Customers Vehicles

There is evidence that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads from person to person, some reports suggest the virus can last for several days on surfaces including plastics found in vehicles.


Good hygiene can prevent infection from coronavirus as well as the common cold and flu.


With this in mind we wish to share with you what practices Lube Mobile have put in place to ensure the safety of our Customers and of our staff.


Prior to working inside a vehicle, the Lube Mobile technician will use the following procedure;


  1. The technician will check with you whether you have been overseas and ordered to comply with a self-isolation order.

  2. Disinfect car. 

  3. Disinfect hands. 

  4. Where possible avoid switching on HAVAC system (air conditioning / heater control). 


Disinfect Car

  1. Disinfect outside door handle prior to entering the vehicle. 

  2. Spray or wipe all relevant areas inside the vehicle. 

  3. Allow disinfectant to sit for up to 10mins to dry by airing out the vehicle. 

  4. Conduct works inside the vehicle.

  5. When the work is finished we will give the vehicle a final spray or wipe prior to returning the vehicle to you (including outside door handle). 


Parts of the Vehicle to be Disinfected

  1. Door handle (outside first then inside). 

  2. Steering wheel. 

  3. Radio and other control buttons and indicators. 

  4. Seat belt. 

  5. Any other areas we may need to touch when working inside the vehicle (i.e. glove box handles, drink holders, dashboard, hand brake and gears etc.) 


Disinfect Hands

  1. We will use hand sanitiser or washing of hands prior to entering the vehicle. 

  2. After completing the work we will Sanitise our hands thoroughly and close the door to the vehicle. 


Payment and Invoicing

  1. No Cash payments. Our strong preference is payment by card via the tap and go facility. 

  2. Printing of invoices and quotes will cease and we will instead email them to you. 


Should you have any queries regarding our Coronavirus (Covid-19) procedures, or any other matter please do not hesitate in contacting us on 13 30 32.


CLICK TO CALL 13 30 32

Drive Belt

Drive Belt Replacement

Remove and Replace Drive Belt

Check Drive Belt Pulleys

Check Drive Belt Tensioner

Road Test

Drive Belt

The drive belt (or serpentine belt) of a vehicle is the device that the engine uses to drive power to the air conditioning system, power steering, and alternator. It is made of reinforced rubber material and can last for a long time, in many cases up to 100,000 kms or around 5 years with average daily use.

The drive belt in a car is fairly easy to spot. It runs on the front of the engine and you can see that it’s attached to a series of wheels and gears. The belt runs around several different parts of the engine. In older cars the belt may be made up of two different parts, but in many modern vehicles, it is one belt to drive all the different components.

While the drive belt of a vehicle is designed to last a long time, there are a few warning signs that will help you anticipate if something is going wrong. Some of the things you’ll need to keep a lookout for include:

  1. Squealing: This is a sign that the drive belt is slipping and not being as effective as it should. The squealing gets more prominent as the engine starts up or is idling.

  2. Cracking or Splitting: Older drive belts may often develop cracks and ultimately break apart. If you see any cracks or other issues, you should get the belt examined professionally.

Unfortunately, in most cases when a drive belt breaks there are often no warning signs. However, if you hear what is commonly called the ‘serpentine belt squeal’ this is clearly an indicator that something needs to be inspected, adjusted and probably changed.

As the serpentine belt is key for driving and supplying power to many other parts in the engine, it can break while the car is in motion. If your belt breaks while driving, try to pull over as soon as possible. You should then call for help or get the car towed to safety. It is not recommended that you drive the vehicle in this condition, as doing so will cause further problems.

Lube Mobile can perform a drive belt change as a part of your regular car service or as standalone car repairs. Our mobile mechanic can visit you and attend to your car wherever it is, which can save you an expensive tow. We have over 190 vehicles operating in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, and in many other locations all over Australia.

If you need your serpentine belt replaced or any servicing completed on your cooling system you can book in through our contact page, or call 13 30 32, for an appointment and one of our mobile mechanics will attend to your car, and have you running again.

How much does it cost to change a fan belt?

For an exact cost, it can largely depend on the make and model of your particular vehicle. If you have a separate fan belt it can be reasonably inexpensive, although for most cars the fan belt or drive belt will run multiple items in the engine, it can cost anywhere from $200 - $600. For a more accurate cost, you can call us at Lube Mobile on 13 30 32, and we will provide you with an estimate on the belt replacement cost.

If you are replacing the belt as a part of your regular scheduled service, the cost will usually be incorporated into that as a whole. When the fan belt is replaced the mechanic will be working on an area of the car where it will be cheaper to do multiple services at once. You can ask what other items can be replaced or serviced at the same time to save you some money.

How to replace alternator belt?

In an older car replacing the alternator fan belt is reasonably straightforward. Start by making sure the car is parked in a stable condition and the battery terminals are disconnected. Then use an appropriate wrench to loosen the auto-tensioner or the alternator bolts. The belt should be relaxed enough that you can work it loose from the pulley and remove it from the car. Ideally, you should take notice of how the belt goes on the car, this is especially important if the belt is a serpentine belt. For best results take a picture of how it looked before you remove it.

Before replacing the belt make sure you have the appropriate belt for your vehicle, as installing the incorrect one can cause problems. Thread the new belt on making sure you follow the correct path the old belt did. If you thread the belt in the wrong way it can cause problems for the engine and possibly further damage it.

After you have replaced the belt, tighten the auto-tensioner or alternator bolts. This will move the alternator and tighten the belt. Once you have finished checking the tension of the belt - it should have very little give when installed properly. You can buy a belt tensioner to check the tension for you.

For best results have an experienced mechanic perform the belt change for you as that will guarantee the job is completed correctly, and you’ll receive a warranty on the service.

When to replace belts on car?

Most belts in an engine will have a limited lifespan, and they should be changed before they break. The drive belt has a lifespan of around 100,000km, but they can change from car to car, it largely depends on what your particular make and model recommends.

If you’re not sure you can call Lube Mobile and we’ll give you an indication of when the drive belts should be changed or you can contact your car’s manufacturer.

Related components we can repair or replace:

Click on a heading for more information: