A timing belt is a rubber belt with teeth located inside of the engine and needs to be lubricated by the oil in the engine, making oil maintenance important as well. Every time you use the engine, the timing chain is in use.
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If your car has a timing chain instead of a timing belt, a timing chain will rarely need to be replaced. If you don’t know what your car has, you can find all this information in the owner’s manual or just ask a mechanic.
A timing belt synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft ensuring the proper timing and allows the engine’s valves to open and close during each cylinder’s firing.
Over time, your timing belt will stretch due to internal component wear. The chain’s tensioner or guides connected to the chain may wear out also, causing the belt to fail completely.
The recommended time for a timing belt replacement is anywhere between 70,000 to 100,000 miles unless a specific problem arises. Timing belt issues are common in higher mileage vehicles.
Timing belt noises are very noticeable during start-up when oil pressure and flow is at its lowest. Excess slack on a timing belt will cause a rattling nose or even a clanking noise depending on how severe the slack. If the timing belt wear is great enough so the hydraulic timing belt tensioner cannot compensate for the slack, the noise will continue after starting up.
Most timing belts will be hidden behind covers and engine parts, and because of this, it’s hard to perform a visual inspection of your timing belt.
When a timing belt breaks or fails, the engine will not start or run, and the car needs to go in for repair. In most cases, major engine damage occurs due to the pistons not coming into contact with the valves.
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The average cost of timing belt replacement can be anywhere from £300 - £500, but the price will all depend on if the belt has caused any other damage and the make, age and model of your car.
Timing belts aren’t easily accessible, which makes for an intensive labour job. When it’s time to replace your timing belt, you may need to consider replacing additional parts such as the tensioner, idler arm and water pump as these are also difficult to access. Replacing your timing belt is a lot less expensive than replacing an engine that is damaged because of a broken timing belt.
If you have been experiencing issues with your timing belt and need to have it replaced, you can get quotes from local mechanics in your area with MyCarNeedsA.com!
There are two different types of belt. The first is the serpentine belt, which is constantly tensioned by a spring or hydraulic means, the second is the component tensioned belt, which is usually found on older cars. Both belts will exhibit the same kind of signs of failure. Look for cracks, which can be an indicator the part is failing, or glazing, which means that the belt is too loose and is slipping. Finally if there is any major damage to the belt, such as a tear or split, you will be required to make an immediate change out of the part.
Carefully find the longest length of belt that sits between the pulleys, and apply pressure to it with your thumb or finger. You’re looking for around half an inch (1.5cm) of give in the belt. Any more than this means the belt is too slack and will slip on its pulleys. Any less and the belt is too tense, which could lead to premature failure of the part.
As with any car part change you’ll need to check your vehicle’s service manual for any special instructions that are specific to your model and make, before attempting to change a belt. It will also help to look at a drawing, so you can become familiar with the routing and set up of the belt. If you don’t have a manual then it can be extremely useful to make your own rough sketch of the routing, which you can then refer back to in the event of any later problems.
If you’re dealing with a component tensioned belt, you may have to move the component or loosen all the nuts on the tensioning pulley in order to remove the belt. With a serpentine belt you’ll need to use a tool to push the tensioner, allowing you to free the belt from its pulley. Always make sure to pay attention to the routing of the belt when you remove it, so you can tell where the new belt will sit in the engine. Finally, keep the old belt and compare it with your new, replacement belt, to ensure that they are the exact same size. If the belts have a discrepancy between them, then you may have purchased the wrong belt.
Carefully thread the new belt between the pulleys, ensuring that you follow the required routing. When the belt is in place you’ll want to apply the appropriate tension, by either adjusting the tensioning pulleys or the tensioner, depending on what type of belt you’re replacing. If you are replacing the belt on your alternator, it might be necessary to adjust the placement of this part using a pry bar whilst loosening the adjustment fastener, which will allow you to find the correct tension in the belt. When the belt is in place, check the tension as described in step 2 to make sure it is adequately fitted.
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