Knowing More About Timing Belt Replacement
Timing belt complications usually occur without warning. There are no signs of obvious impending damage like an abnormal noise or leaks that could help alert you. Moreover, if your car suddenly dies during its run and refuses to restart, it is most likely that your timing belt is damaged and a timing belt replacement is needed.
Most car owners enjoy the benefit of having a car. The only downfall for such is the responsibility of maintenance in order to make it last for a long time. The car’s belt is among the most essential parts of the car as it works as a linkage between the crankshaft and camshaft. It controls the opening and closing of the valves located in the engine of the car. Naturally, if the belt gets damaged, the car will fail to run smoothly and safely.
Keeping the timed motion of a car is important. Failing to do so will result to a collision between other car parts such as the valves, cylinder head, cylinder walls and pistons. The belt, then, was made to prevent such incident from happening. The belt syncs the mechanism of the engine every time the car is in motion. It rests on two crankshaft pulleys and each of these contain a timing mark. It is important that these marks are arranged according to the timing specifications of the car. The pulleys are then toothed to prevent the belt from slipping off or sliding around the pulleys. These are all commonly preserved movements that help in the successful running of the car.
Because the belt is made from rubber, it is prone to Zahnriemen stretching and breaking due to too much heat. As heat penetrates to the belt, it stretches and deteriorates causing the teeth of the belt to wear out. If there are no teeth to secure the belt, a collision of car parts is made possible. In order to prevent this from happening, a regular check-up or inspection must be done by a certified mechanic. Prevention is better than the cure as this would lessen the cost of car repair and maintenance.
Furthermore, preventing the belt from breaking can’t be done, a replacement remains as the only solution. It is recommended that the car’s timing belt is replaced every 50,000 to 70,000 miles. This is, however, dependent on the car’s replacement intervals for timing belts. This auto repair service usually costs between $250 and $750. Your expenses will vary according to the condition of the belt’s damage.
To save on costs, most car owners resort to replacing the belt on their own. Although it is a difficult task, it is not impossible to do. Experience and knowledge are, nevertheless, essential to have a successful replacement. It should be remembered that once the replacement is done incorrectly, your engine will not run. To avoid this, asking advice and recommendations from certified mechanics is a good measure. Researching is also logical to ensure more understanding regarding the replacement of timing belts.
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Timing Belt – What Should You Do With It?
A timing belt is a mechanical tool that transfers motion to the camshaft from the crankshaft of a reciprocating internal-combustion engine and sometimes it also transfers motion to some of the engine driven accessories. By connecting crankshaft to the camshaft, it will keep the cams turning at the same rate as the crank at a certain variable ratio. It will make sure the right valves are opened at the right time every time a stroke is made by a piston.
So for simplicity let’s just say that piston connects to crankshaft, and crankshaft connects to camshaft, and camshaft connects to valve.
Timing belt is cheaper to manufacture than timing chains or gears, it’s also quieter when operated. A timing belt doesn’t need lubrication. But one disadvantage of timing belt is you need to replace it every certain interval.
When the timing belt slips just by one tooth, the Zahnriemen mit Trägern engine stops operating. In several cars it will produce costly damage especially to the pistons and valves. When the timing belt drops or fails, you will not be able to start the engine. If this happens you should not try starting the engine again.
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How to Check Belts:
- Turn off your engine.
- Open the hood of your car.
- Find the belts, they are located on the very front of your engine. If you have a rear wheel drive car, the front of your engine is usually adjacent to the front bumper and the radiator. Otherwise if it’s a front wheel drive car then the front of of the engine is often adjacent to the fender.
- Note that there are 2 or more belts, it depends on the car models.
- Press lightly with thumb at the belt’s longest part between pulleys. Do this on each belt.
- Find out the normal tension for your belts. It’s in the car’s manual. Normally belts cannot have more than one inch of “give” in both direction.
- Evaluate those belts as you press them. If the belt is cracked or can be easily pushed more than one inch, then it’s highly advised to replace with a new one.
To prevent damage and costly repair, a timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 miles.