Timing belts coordinate the rotation of crankshafts and camshafts in engines, and play a vital role in keeping valves and pistons working in precise order. They should be replaced according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, and may require a mechanic’s expertise. Replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt is often recommended.
Timing belts are reinforced rubber bands used to coordinate the rotation of crankshafts and camshafts in internal combustion engines. The inner surface of most timing belts has teeth that correspond exactly to the gears in a specific engine design. In earlier cars, timing belts were only responsible for timing the camshafts and crankshafts, but modern engines often use them to drive water pumps as well.
Timing belts play a vital role in keeping valves and pistons working in precise order. Each valve and piston combination must push down individual cams on a camshaft at just the right time. Think of a rider waiting until a pedal has crested before they can press it again. If he tries to press the other pedal too soon, his foot could fall off or the pedal could break. Timing belts work to prevent the pistons and valves from pushing on the camshaft before it has reached a full cycle.
Timing belts are designed to last at least 60,000 miles, with some newer designs lasting for the life of the engine. Vehicle owners are urged to replace timing belts in accordance with the car manufacturer’s recommendations. If a timing belt fails completely, the entire engine will stall and the car will be rendered inoperative. In the worst case, the valves and pistons can be pulled into the camshaft and bent or broken beyond repair. There is usually very little warning before timing belts fail, so timely replacement may be the best prevention.
Replacing timing belts is generally not a job for hobby mechanics. The belts are generally inaccessible without removing many other peripheral parts, such as the distributor and possibly the water pump. Replacement timing belts must match your old ones precisely, which can require a time-consuming custom order. Once the timing belt has been replaced, the mechanic must time the camshaft and crankshaft with a special strobe light. Broken timing belts can take several hours to repair, and the vehicle will need to be towed to the workshop.
It is not unusual for a mechanic to suggest replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt, even if there is no obvious damage. It is not a requirement to take this advice, but it can pay off in the long run. Almost all of the labor required to replace a water pump has already been done by replacing the timing belt. If the water pump were to fail later, the mechanic would have to go through all of those preliminary steps again. Timing belts may only need to be replaced once in a car’s lifetime, so it may pay to take advantage of the deal if the added expense of a water pump isn’t a concern.
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