A timing belt is one of the important parts of your vehicle and replacing as indicated by your owner’s manual is necessary to maintain the overall longevity of your vehicle. Along with this information, you should also know if you are driving a car that has an interference engine or a non-interference engine. Equipped with this knowledge, you are bound to save a ton of repair on future car repairs. Before we get into the right time to replace a timing belt, it is important to know the purpose of a timing belt. The functionality of the crank and the engine and collaborated with the help of a timing belt. When these two parts open and close together near the pistons is regarded as an interference engine simply because if the timing belt comes out of place during the process, it will interfere with the dynamics of these two parts.
This out of placement is likely to cause major harm to the engine, and so much so that in older vehicles may be more than the car itself. Contrarily, if this scenario occurs in a non-interference engine, it will simply lose power and will not start. While this is the type of engine we may want to have, it is best to take preventive measures to avoid this situation altogether. Most car manufacturers recommend that you replace the timing belt every 100,000 kilometers especially if you live in areas that are affected by high extreme heat.
It is a good practice to occasionally inspect the timing belt. Start my analyzing the belt for cracks and chips and for any ribbing that is missing. If you notice any fraying or cracks, then it’s time to replace the timing belt, and whatever you do, it best to do it at first notice to avoid further damage. You can buy a new timing belt and install it yourself, but considering that it is an important component of your vehicle, putting it in should best be left up to the professionals.
There are several symptoms to diagnose a faulty belt, and some are more obvious than others. As the timing belt starts to wear out, there are often weird and loud sounds that can be head. These are much more evident at engine startup, but may be heard when the engine is idle as well. If you hear such sound, it is best to pull over at the next safe spot, open the hood, let it cool off, and then examine the engine. Once the engine is completely cool, you can try to take a look at the timing belt, and if you notice oil or coolant signs, then that’s a good indication that the belt will wear off soon.
Changing a timing belt yourself is not an easy task, but is not impossible with the steps listed below. Take note that every vehicle has its unique set of dynamics so the procedure to change in one may not be the same as another make/model of vehicle. Start off by disconnecting the negative battery cable, and refer to the auto manual if you are not sure where it is located. With the help of a socket or wrench, turn the bolt on the crankshaft until the timing belt is aligned with the mark on the timing scale.
Then you would just need to check the distributor rotor, get to the timing belt cover and remove it carefully. Then you can loosen the tensioner, remove and replace the belt and then put the engine back again. As you can see that this is not a procedure that one can afford to mess with, and if it fails will end up costing you a whole lot more to begin with so it is best to get your timing belt replaced by a reputable mechanic.
