TIMING BELT SERVICES
What does a timing belt do?
A timing belt, timing chain, or cambelt is a part of an internal combustion engine that synchronizes the rotation of the crankshaft and the camshaft(s) so that the engine’s valves open and close at the proper times during each cylinder’s intake and exhaust strokes. This service is critical to maintaining the integrity of your engine and increasing how long your engine lasts.
Images are courtesy of ClearMechanic.com
What is a timing belt?
The timing belt is made of rubber or a synthetic material and is ribbed or toothed for extra durability. It connects the crankshaft on the bottom of the engine with hte camshaft at the top to make sure they turn at the proper speed so that the engine runs smoothly. The timing belt may also drive additional components such as a water pump.
How often do you replace a timing belt?
Manufacturers usually recommend changing the timing belt every 100,000 km. Please check with you owner’s manual to see their recommendations for your vehicle.
It is recommended to have your mechanic physically examine the belt.
What are the signs that a timing belt needs to be replaced?
The mechanic will remove the timing belt cover and examine the belt to see if any of the follow wear signs exist:
teeth are worn down, sheared off or hollowed out
the edges of the belt are worn
the back of the belt is cracked
the belt is soaked in oil
the belt is broken
Is it expensive to replace a timing belt?
Yes! Replacing a timing belt is one of the more expensive maintenance procedures. Luckily you do not have it frequently. The high expense is mostly labour costs. It takes a lot of time to take parts off to get access to the belt. When all the parts are reassembled the technician will make sure that the timing marks on the engine are properly aligned so that the camshafts and crankshaft are synchronized correctly.
Quite often the mechanic will recommend to replace other parts when the car is all apart. Items such as pulleys, serpentine belts, tensioners and the water pump are usually worth replacing if they show signs of wear.
What happens if I don't replace the timing belt and it breaks?
DISASTER! The car will not run which will leave you stranded with the worst case scenario being a new engine will be required which will cost many thousands of dollars to fix.
Nobody wants to spend the extra money to replace a timing belt but it could be compared it to the cost of replacing shingles on a roof (but not as expensive). If you decided not to replace the shingles after 20 years and your roof leaks where water gets in and wrecks the plywood roof, wrecks your installation in the attic, potentially causes your rafters to warp, wrecks the ceiling drywall and then causes your hardwood floors to warp without even taking into consideration Gramma’s priceless dining room suite … how expensive would that be to replace.
Maintenance is much less expensive than repair.
What is a timing belt?
In this short video, Larry from Virginia Tire in Virginia, USA does a good job of explaining what a timing belt is and when they should be replaced.