The serpentine belt is different from other types of belt systems because it is a long, continuous belt that connects several different devices. The old system used many belts to drive the devices in the engine compartment, but after the development of serpentine belts in 1979, most cars began to use this system to improve efficiency and convenience.
Serpentine belts are easier to install than individual belts. There is usually a movable pulley to tension the serpentine belt, so to replace the belt, just loosen the pulley, remove the old belt, replace the new serpentine belt, and then tighten it to the appropriate specification. The old system requires a mechanic to determine which belt is broken and work around other belts and engine components to replace the belt. Serpentine belts are less likely to stretch and break than smaller and weaker individual belts. The tension is more evenly distributed along the length of the belt. Since serpentine belts are usually longer, larger and wider than individual belts, they have a longer service life and can resist frequent breaks.
