Timing Belt

When is it time to Change your Timing belt ?

Does my car have one?

What happens if i don’t change it ?

Good Questions….. In our Car Repair Garage we always advise you on what is best, as it is not only due on mileage it also can be due on time, if you are not doing a lot of mileage and the car is 5 to 7 years old, ITS DUE if your car is doing a lot of short trips put not doing a lot of mileage ( example city driving in lower gears — you are doing less speed but engine is working as hard as if you were doing 120km in a higher gear)(Taxi doing city mileage ) this is called adverse driving conditions .

On most makes and Models the Range can be between 40,000 to 100,000. Call us to find when it is Due in your car (021) 4976444

In our Quick Fit car repair garage we have the specialist tools to do the job properly. As engines are smaller and more powerful than ever before, there is a need for a lot of special tools both for mechanical and computer diagnostics’s. At Quick Fit we have them all.

It is important to check when your timing belt was last changed and if a replacement is due. Most timing belts need to be changed at 40,000 miles or 4 years, whichever comes first. To find out when it is due on your make & model call us, we will be happy to help.

In the event of timing belt failure the possibility of internal engine damage is most likely to occur.

In the internal combustion engine application, the timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which in turn controls the opening and closing of the engine’s valves. A four-stroke engine requires that the valves open and close once every other revolution of the crankshaft. The timing belt does this. It has teeth to turn the camshaft, synchronized with the crankshaft, and is specifically designed for a particular engine. In some engine designs, the timing belt may also be used to drive other engine components such as the water pump and oil pump.

Gear or chain systems are also used to connect the crankshaft to the camshaft at the correct timing. However, gears and shafts constrain the relative location of the crankshaft and camshafts. Even where the crankshaft and camshaft(s) are very close together, as in pushrod engines, most engine designers use a short chain drive rather than a direct gear drive. This is because gear drives suffer from frequent torque reversal as the cam profiles “kick back” against the drive from the crank, leading to excessive noise and wear. Fibre gears, with more resilience, are preferred to steel gears where direct drive has to be used. A belt or chain allows much more flexibility in the relative locations of the crankshaft and camshafts.

While chains and gears may be more durable, rubber composite belts are quieter in their operation (in most modern engines the noise difference is negligible), are less expensive and more efficient, by dint of being lighter, when compared with a gear or chain system. Also, timing belts do not require lubrication, which is essential with a timing chain or gears. A timing belt is a specific application of a synchronous belt used to transmit rotational power synchronously.

Timing belts are typically covered by metal or polymer timing belt covers which require removal for inspection or replacement. Engine manufacturers recommend replacement at specific intervals. The manufacturer may also recommend the replacement of other parts, such as the water pump, when the timing belt is replaced because the additional cost to replace the water pump is negligible compared to the cost of accessing the timing belt. In an interference engine, or one whose valves extend into the path of the piston, failure of the timing belt (or timing chain) invariably results in costly and, in some cases, irreparable engine damage, as some valves will be held open when they should not be and thus will be struck by the pistons.

Indicators that the timing belt may need to be replaced include a rattling noise from the front of the engine.