Replacing Your Timing Belt Could Save Costly Repairs

A very essential element  of some car engines, the timing belt (aka cam belt), controls your vehicle’s valve timing. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the opening and closing of valves necessary during the internal combustion process. It turns the water pump in some engines.Some engines use a timing chain insteed of a belt. Wikipedia says the first car to use a timing belt was in 1945, and the timing belt first went into mass production in 1962 with the German Glas 1004 car. It hit The US with the 1966 Pontiac Tempest, and also the 1966 Vauxhall introduced the modern-day use of the timing belt with the four-cylinder overhead cam design that is common to most cars today. Auto manufacturers suggest the timing belt be changed at regular intervals, so it is wise to consult your owner’s manual and keep accurate records.


Make this practice of changing the belt regular
All automotive belts are significant to an engine’s proper function, and also the timing belt is no exception. It’s made of rubber, so it’s relatively inexpensive. It can also snap without warning. Depending upon whether you’ve the “interference” type of engine , a snapped timing belt can cause the engine pistons to bend the valves, which requires the head to be removed. That’s an costly repair procedure, so have your timing belt changed regularly. As the timing belt is generally covered up and not very easily visible, it is typically a good idea to have a trained professional perform the inspection and replacement.


How long will a timing belt last?
It will all depend on the manufacturer. It could be about 10,000 miles for a belt tension check, or as much as 100,000 miles before total replacement. If there’s any doubt, preventative maintenance is better than trying to wait until it snaps and the valves warp. If you drive hard and live in a warm climate, you will probably have to change the timing belt more often, as excessive heat causes rubber to crack over time. Exposure to oil or antifreeze can also wear down the rubber, so if you have a leak, you’ll want to inspect the belt. Since the cost of a new water pump is relatively low compared with the cost of having a mechanic go in and check the timing belt, I suggest just replacing the water pump at the exact same time that you replace the belt.

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