A drive belt is an essential part of a cars engine that helps it to run smoothly by safely transmitting power to different parts of the engine. There are three types of drive belts: serpentine belt, V-belt, and timing belt. The serpentine belt is the most common type and is usually found in cars produced after 1990. It snakes its way between various pulleys and accessories, including the air conditioner compressor, water pump, alternator, and steering pump. The V-belt runs off a crank and pulley and typically travels between one or two engine accessories. Older cars often have several V-belts used for power steering, air conditioning, and other operating essentials. The timing belt, also known as the camshaft belt, opens and closes the engine valves in proper timing with the pistons and allows the crankshaft to turn the camshaft. The drive belt is also known as the serpentine belt or accessory belt. Signs of a bad drive belt include engine overheating, power steering failure, battery dying, squealing noise, and physical damage on the drive belt. It is often beneficial to change the drive belts in your car approximately every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.