When people think about car maintenance, they tend to leave their belts on the back burner. This is partly due to the fact that belts don’t tend to wear down until later on in the vehicle’s life. However, it is important to regularly inspect the timing belt for signs of wear and tear. If this belt breaks, it can majorly affect your vehicle’s drivability and damage the engine.
The timing belt is responsible for synchronizing the rotation of the motor’s crankshaft and camshaft. The ribbed teeth on the rubber help with the engine’s harmonious motions. Without this integral component, the engine valves would not start and stop at the appropriate time. And therefore, your pistons and valves can suffer serious damage.
What Are the Signs of a Worn Timing Belt?
- Looseness or tightness of the belt
- Physical signs of belt wear, including cracking, glazing, grime build-up, and loose fibers
- Slow or sluggish engine starts, or overall incapable to start
- High-pitched sounds from under the hood
Most car manufacturers advise you to replace your timing belt every 60,000-100,000 miles. The interval can vary depending on wear and tear, the use of the timing belt or chain, and the quality of the materials of the belt. Regardless, you should always replace your timing belt early, or before it breaks. Do not wait too long after you notice one of the above signs. To stay in the know of your timing belt’s condition, we recommend asking your service technician to monitor your timing belt every time you bring it in for an oil change.
A broken or damaged timing belt can present major troubles and costly engine repairs down the line. We invite you to Pro Drive today if you need to have your timing belt inspected and exchanged. For any questions or concerns, please give us a call today.