Monday, October 7

How to detect faults in the timing belt of the car

Klon Perez

By: Klon Perez Updated 01 Apr 2022, 00: 00 pm EDT

Before talking about the timing belt, its failures and possible changes, the ideal is to thoroughly understand its operation and how essential it can be for our car. Knowing exactly what its function is will help to have an idea of ​​the magnitude of how serious it can be that it fails.

Changing the timing belt on time will prevent a greater evil that can put many parts involved with the engine at stake. our car. The belt is responsible for synchronizing the crankshaft with the camshaft, controlling the movement of the valves with respect to the pistons.

This element is very prone to wear, so the only way to ensure proper vehicle operation is to follow the instructions in the maintenance book exactly and make the change within the stipulated period.

If the timing belt were to break, the timing would be zero and both the piston and the valves would be seriously affected, making repairs very expensive.

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Distribution chain. (Photo: Shutterstock)

When should the timing belt be changed?

There is no generic time or kilometer limit to take as a reference when changing the timing belt. Everything will depend on the type of engine and the characteristics of each specific car.

Normally the useful life of this element is between 35 thousand and the 100 thousand miles, although in more modern cars it can extend up to 150 a thousand miles. Some also consider that it is possible to estimate it in years and these could be between 5 and 7 as long as the use of the car is habitual and not occasional.

Distribution chain. (Photo: Shutterstock)

How to know if the timing belt is worn?

There are several symptoms that could help us identify a worn timing belt:

  • Excessive smoke coming out of the exhaust
  • The car accumulates a lot of mileage and starts with difficulty
  • Engine vibrates and vehicle shakes during driving
  • The belt shows wear: cracks, cracks, dryness in the rubber, lack of tension or non-uniform belt teeth

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    Factors to be taken into account to estimate the useful life of the belt

    There are several factors, both use c as climatic, which directly influence the wear and life of the belt. Therefore, we must pay attention to these conditions:

    • It is a work vehicle and makes long journeys daily
    • Short and intermittent journeys are frequently made in which the engine works cold or at low temperatures
    • The average ambient temperature where the car is used is 30°C or more
    • Average ambient temperature is 15°C below zero or less
    • Exposed to excessive dust
    • The vehicle is used for trailer or caravan
    • Driving is aggressive or speeds frequently
    • Poor quality oils or fuels are used

      • It is important to be clear that a timing belt can never be replaced by an already used one.

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