A new smartphone app from Gates Corp. is said to help evaluate the wearing of serpentine belts. The Parts Image Capture (PIC) Gauge Belt Wear app uses digital imaging technology to deliver accurate measurements of a belt’s wear, the company said.
Users simply take a picture of the belt with their smartphone’s camera and the software analyzes the image to determine the degree of rib wear, Gates said, identifying one of three situations: within specifications (green), wear detected (yellow), or replace belt (red).
“One of the easiest and best ways to avoid expensive repairs down the road is to replace a vehicle's serpentine belt on time,” said David Miller, vice president of marketing at Gates. “While the typical customer may not think to have the belt checked, PIC Gauge allows professional technicians and service writers to easily inspect a vehicle’s belt while in the shop for routine maintenance or repair.”
Gates’ PIC Gauge Belt Wear app is available for the iPhone and may be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store.
