One of the many services that we offer here at Accurate Automotive Services is timing belt service and replacement.
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A snapped timing belt can cause serious damage to your car, rendering it unusable. Servicing it and replacing it as per the guidelines of your vehicle manufacturer is essential to prolong the life of your car. When we pull on the belt, if we see cracks, it’s time to replace the timing belt.
What is the timing belt?
The timing belt is a rubber belt in your engine that controls the timing of internal combustion engines. It is central to the process of making the car run smoothly, as it also ensures that the crankshaft and camshaft rotate in synchronisation.
While a snapped timing or cam belt is not common, tension issues are widespread. If the timing belt is too loose, it will end up whipping about inside of the engine, which causes many knock-on effects, none of which are going to do your vehicle any good. If the belt is too tight, it will put additional strain on the bearings of the cogs that it is attached to.
A tight belt will cause a whining noise to be generated from the engine, so if you hear this sound, make sure you book a repair or service as soon as possible at Accurate Automotive Services. Try to avoid getting to this point though – regular services will prevent it because we check timing belts everytime we review your vehicle and keep you informed.
What are the signs that your timing belt needs replacing?
- A squealing noise can be heard when starting the car.
- Issues with starting the vehicle
- A glazed or glossy appearance to the belt
What happens if your timing belt snaps?
The most difficult aspect of your timing belt upkeep is that it will usually continue to provide reliable service, with minimal attention, for several years. However, it is important to remember that rubber is a perishable item, and the prolonged exposure to the high temperatures found in the engine, along with the speeds at which the belt has to spin continuously, means that the timing belt has to work very hard to keep things running smoothly.
If your timing belt snaps, there are two potential eventualities that will depend on the type of engine timing setup used.
The so-called ‘interference’ engines require a timing belt to prevent the valves and pistons within the engine from slamming into each other at high speed. And, of course, if they were to do this, it would possibly result in the respective parts being broken to bits and the resultant fragments being scattered all over the inside of the engine, thereby causing all sorts of chaos that could cause damage well beyond the actual components involved.
If the car has a non-interference engine, the pistons and valves are located separately so the broken timing belt does not do any harm to them, and it can be fixed easily by installing a new belt. However, the vehicle would still be immobilised if the belt breaks, which may result in you having to pay to have it towed to the garage if you do not have the advantage of being a part of a recovery service.
What is the typical lifespan of a timing belt?
As a rule, you can expect the timing belt to last for up to five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. This goes for Toyota timing belt replacement, Kia timing belt replacement and most other models. In cars where this replacement is required, it is normally part of the service schedule.
The first place to check for the recommended intervals for a timing belt change is the manual for your car. You can also look at the manufacturer website.
If you are within the mileage recommended, you should be prepared to replace the timing belt in the run-up to the fifth ‘birthday’ of the car, and every five years after that.
Some of the cars we work with at Accurate Automotive Services and the intervals at which they should be replaced at include:
- Honda timing belt replacement: 60,000 – 100,000 miles
- Acura timing belt replacement: 105,000 miles
- Toyota timing belt replacement: 60,000 miles
- Lexus timing belt replacement: 90,000 miles
- Hyundai timing belt replacement: 70,000 miles
- Kia timing belt replacement: 80,000 miles
- Subaru timing belt replacement: 105,000 miles
- Infiniti timing belt replacement: 90,000 miles
- Ford timing belt replacement: 60,000 miles
- Chrysler timing belt replacement: 60,000 miles
- GM timing belt replacement: 90,000 miles
As part of a standard maintenance service, a timing belt change should not be prohibitively expensive. However, if left to snap or deteriorate on its own, it can cause almost catastrophic damage to other parts of a car, and this is what can make it expensive. This is why it is important to find out when the timing belt was last changed if you take ownership of a previously owned car.
If you do need a timing belt service, repair or replacement, it is vital that you use an experienced mechanic or garage such as Accurate Automotive Services. It needs to be aligned exactly and remain in perfect synchronisation with other engine parts
Are Accurate Automotive Services the best timing belt service near me?
We are. We only use the best mechanics and professionals in the auto industry and provide a top-quality ASE certified service. We can carry out full services and other auto repair services at competitive prices.
We work on thousands of cars every year and send them back to happy, satisfied customers who can carry on driving their vehicles for many years to come. When it comes to timing belt services and replacements in your area, we should always be the very top choice. Why not check out the reviews and testimonials on our website to see what previous motorists have to say?
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
