Like most rubber parts on your car, belts and hoses are subject to the vagaries of high engine temperatures, oil and ozone - all of which deteriorate the rubber prematurely. So start by treating the hoses periodically with a rubber protectant or spray silicone. But not, obviously, the belts - the slippery treatment will prevent them from gripping the pulleys.

Even with good maintenance, the rubber will weather-check and begin to fail. Aside from the obvious inconvenience of an outright failure some rush-hour afternoon, a glazed or slipping belt can produce excessively high engine temperatures. This is also true of an oil-soaked lower radiator hose that's softened to the point of collapse under the suction of the water pump at high engine speeds.

So, periodically inspect all the belts and hoses, and replace them before they damage a perfectly good engine.