Press Release
Continental Recommends Checking Belts, Hoses
To Prepare Automobiles For Winter Season
FAIRLAWN, Ohio, December 15, 2015 – The long hot summer may be over for a great deal of the
country, and winter may have been delayed, but that doesn’t mean overheating problems for your
car care are, too. “Heat caused by a faulty fan belt or a busted radiator hose can give motorists
problems in the winter, too,” said Tom Lee, Continental’s marketing manager for its North
American aftermarket business. Lee and Continental recommend that belts and hoses under the
hood of your car care be checked regularly – especially before winter.
“It’s just as aggravating waiting for a tow in the cold of winter as it is in the heat of summer,” Lee
said. While summer temperatures hasten the heat buildup and shorten the life of rubber products,
winter’s severe cold temperatures can be equally devastating to belt and hose life. “In the winter,
the extreme change from hot to cold makes belt and hose products more susceptible to cracking
and breaking,” Lee said. “Almost nine out of 10 radiator hose and fan belt failures create an
emergency situation. They frequently happen away from home, increasing both the cost and
inconvenience of repairs.”
Poly V belts deliver power from an automobile’s engine to the alternator, fan, various pumps and
other equipment. A belt that’s not working properly can cause battery discharge and eventual
failure. Hoses, while transporting hot, pressurized coolant to and from the radiator, also serve as a
shock absorber between the engine and hose connections, protecting them from damage and a
resulting leak.
Continental offers these tips for checking belts and hose before winter:
Turning a belt over with your fingers to expose the underside, look for 1) Glazed sidewalls from oil
or aging; 2) Cracks caused by high temperatures, flexing and age; 3) Uneven wear and exposed
edge cords caused by pulley misalignment or wobble.
Your contact:
Hank Inman, phone: (330) 571-7727
-2Hoses should be checked for the following conditions: 1) Cracking – usually caused by heat, aging
and weathering; 2) Bulging or swelling – usually caused by excessive heat or exposure to oil or
grease; 3) Sponginess from exposure to oil or grease; 4) Burst – the result of excessive heat or
aging. All of these conditions call for immediate belt or hose replacement.
“Belt and hose products today are more durable, but the operating temperatures under the hood of
a car are also higher, creating a condition that is more severe than ever before,” Lee said.
For additional information on maintaining or replacing belts or hoses, visit www.continentalelite.com.
Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner,
the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provide sustainable, safe,
comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately
€34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental
currently employs more than 208,000 people in 53 countries.
The ContiTech division is one of the world's leading suppliers of technical elastomer products and is a
specialist in plastics technology. It develops and produces functional parts, components, and systems for
machine and plant engineering, mining, the automotive industry, and other important industries. Together
with U.S. company Veyance Technologies Inc., which was acquired at the beginning of 2015, ContiTech
generated sales of approximately €5.4 billion (pro forma basis) in 2014 and currently employs approximately
43,000 people in 43 countries worldwide.
Media Contacts
North America:
Anthony DiGiacobbe
Marketing Communications Director
ContiTech NAFTA, Industry
703 S. Cleveland-Massillon Rd.
Fairlawn, OH 44333
Phone: (330) 664-7124
Mobile: (330) 646-3807
E-mail: Anthony.digiacobbe@contitech.us
Your contact:
Hank Inman, phone: (330) 571-7727
North America:
Henry J. Inman
Communications Consultant
ContiTech NAFTA
Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44221
Phone: (330)-571-7727
E-mail: contitech@neo.rr.com
Europe:
Antje Lewe
Spokeswoman
Head of Media & Public Relations
ContiTech AG
Phone: +49 511 938-1304
E-mail: antje.lewe@contitech.de
-3Links
Press releases and photos are available for download at www.contitech.us
Your contact:
Hank Inman, phone: (330) 571-7727