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Do I Need a Timing Belt Replacement?

Do I Need a Timing Belt Replacement?
Short & Sweet

Timing Belt Purpose:

A timing belt or chain is what keeps many of the moving parts of your engine in sync.

Symptoms of Failure:

Signs of a Bad Timing Belt:

1. Your check engine light comes on.

2. The timing belt is making a whining, slapping or other unusual noise.

3. Your engine is misfiring or running poorly.

4. The car has trouble starting.

Care & Repair:

The average timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 –100,000 miles. This is one of the most important maintenance schedules you can follow. If a timing belt breaks, it can cause extensive, usually costly, damage to your engine.

Cost to Replace Timing Belt: $250 – $700

Purpose

A timing belt or chain is what keeps many of the moving parts of your engine in sync. It is what keeps the valves opening and closing at the correct time as the engine turns over, hence the name timing belt. If you have an interference engine and your timing belt breaks, the valves may strike the pistons, causing severe damage and your car will not run. In non-interference engines, the valves will not make contact with the pistons. Even though you may not have severe damage to your vehicle, your car will not run until the belt is replaced.

NOTE: Many cars have a metal chain instead of a belt. In this case, you would not need to have your timing chain replaced at regular intervals, since this chain should last for the length of your car. Timing chains are lubricated by engine oil, so one reason they could go bad is if you aren’t keeping up on your oil changes!

Symptoms

If Your Timing Belt Breaks:

If the timing belt brakes, your car will stop running and it won’t start again until you get a new belt. You may also have to fix the damage that was done to your engine as a result of the belt breaking.

Signs of a Bad Timing Belt:

If you think your car has a bad timing belt, get it checked out ASAP.

1. Your check engine light comes on.

2. The timing belt is making a whining, slapping or other unusual noise.

3. Your engine is misfiring or running poorly.

4. The car has trouble starting.

Care & Repair

The average timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 –100,000 miles. If you are going on 120,000, you might be playing with fire. No matter what kind of engine you have, interference or non-interference, your car will not run without your timing belt. It just makes sense to have the belt changed at your convenience as opposed to when it breaks.  Check your cars maintenance schedule to see how often your timing belt should be changed.

NOTE: Many cars have a metal chain instead of a belt. In this case, you would not need to follow a maintenance schedule, since these should last for the duration of your car. Timing chains are lubricated by engine oil, so one reason they could go bad is if you aren’t keeping up on your oil changes!

Cost

The cost of a new timing belt or change can be pretty expensive, but very necessary. They can cost from about $250 – $700. Timing belts or chains can be difficult for the mechanic to access, making the labor costs pretty high. If you need a new timing belt, bite the bullet and get one. You don’t want to have one break and have to pay for that and also the damage it does to your engine. If you are getting a timing belt replaced, it is often a good idea to get some other things replaced as well. The reason being, things like your water pump, pullys, etc. are often hard to access. If your mechanic is already in there, you may as well get them replaced, saving you labor costs down the road. For an accurate estimate, go to www.repairpal.com.

About The Author

Pedals and Pumps

PedalsandPumps provides direct, honest information about car maintenance and repair. We provide money and time saving tips for readers who want to maximize their dollar and simplify their auto owning experience.

TIP:

If you have lost a cap on your tire inflation valve, mention it at your next oil change and the technician will probably replace it for your for free. More ways to tell if you have a tire pressure issue.

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