Timing belt services in Ards - Timing belt services

How to undertake a cam belt replacement

When you have noticed a potential problem with the timing belt of your vehicle then it may be that you want to replace it by yourself. The replacing of a vehicle's timing belt can be an extremely challenging and time consuming assignment, so if you do not have complete faith in your skills as a mechanic Help Fix Car can be used to track down cam belt specialists in Ards to fit your car with a new timing belt. Most of the time for the job is not consumed by the replacing of the actual cam belt, but rather the partial stripping of the engine that you will need to perform to get to the belt. We would advise that if you wish to replace the cam belt of your vehicle yourself rather than utilising Help Fix Car to source a timing belt specialist in Ards that you free up two days to give you ample time to undertake the work.

What is a timing belt?

A timing belt is a belt that connects a vehicle's crankshaft and camshaft. It has teeth that vary in shape in response to the type of cam belt required by your vehicle. More recently made cam belts tend to have teeth that are rounded, whereas shaper teeth can be found on older belts. Timing belts are normally made from rubber then strengthened by covering them with resistant materials to lengthen their service time. Contemporary cam belts are sometimes made out of materials such as HSN in order for them to cope with high temperatures within a vehicle's engine. The dimensions of modern timing belts are not as wide older ones to lessen their weight, to generate less friction.

The effects of failing to mend broken timing belts

Should you have realised that there are problems with your timing belt it is advisable to have it seen to as quickly as you can. If your engines timing belt fails or slips at all you may suffer serious engine damage as a result. The camshaft of your engine is turned by the timing belt so as to operate the engine valves. Should there be an issue with the cam belt in your car the valves in your car engine will not be able to function resulting in them hitting the pistons of your engine. If you have had problems with your engine's cam belt Help Fix Car can be used to find accredited Ards timing belt experts to fix the timing belt of your Land Rover before it's engine is damaged beyond repair.

What is the role of a timing belt?

Timing belts are belts, normally made out of rubber that are able to control the timing of valves in engines. Valves in engines need to open and close a pre-agreed number of times and a cam belt is responsible for this happening. A cam belt's teeth are carefully designed so that they can deliver maximum efficiency for their engine. These teeth will turn the cam shaft of the vehicle's engine and ensure that it does not drop out of sync with the crankshaft. The cam shaft turns half as fast as the crankshaft of the engine, enabled by the timing belt. Should something stop this from happening then the engine will be prevented from efficiently working which can lead to your engine suffering irreparable damage. Examples of such problems can be your engine's valves remaining open when they shouldn't be resulting in them being stuck by the engine's pistons.

Potential problems with timing belts

Difficulties with the timing belt of a car are one of the main reasons for car's breaking down. There can be a number of different problems with timing belts and significant damage can be avoided if you can identify them sooner or later. The timing belt snapping all together is obviously the main concern, and this can happen for a number of reasons. Timing belts can become tight resulting in them squeaking noisily. If your timing belt looses its teeth the cam shaft cannot be turned. Should the cam belt be misaligned the cam shaft will not be able to turn. Timing belts can also suffer oil damage changing the size of the belt, stopping it from properly functioning. Timing belts will sometimes come loose meaning that they can slide out of position. Cam belt corrosion can also result in them snapping.

Different cam belt types

There are a number of different sorts of cam belt and the sort that you will need to have will depend on your car. A cam belt will be applied in two types of engine. Interference engine cam belts require regular maintaining as a result of the level of proximity between the pistons and valves in your vehicles engine. Non-interference engine cam belts need much less maintenance as the valves and pistons in the engine do not sit so closely together. The teeth of your cam belt may be of a number of shapes. Cam belts that are less modern will usually have trapezoid shaped teeth, when contrasted with the rounded teeth of recent cam belts. Cam belts will usually be made from rubber which has been treated with materials like fibreglass to ensure that it is stronger, although modern cam belts are made out of materials like HSN.

The consequences of failing to act on timing belt issues

A failure to spot that your cam belt is damaged, or even worse; a failure to act when it is can spell disaster for your engine. If your vehicle has an interference engine not replacing a broken timing belt can result in notable damage to your auto mobile. If the timing belt in your car breaks then the vehicle will not even start up, but if the belt continues to run impaired your engine could be damaged beyond repair without your knowledge. If you have a damaged timing belt your engine's valves and pistons will knock into each other which can result in cracks appearing in your valve guides. The valve guides in the engine of your vehicle may also bend which can cost a considerable amount to have fixed. In extreme circumstances your cam shaft may even break. Should be having difficulties with your timing belt use Help Fix Car to track down Ards cam belt mechanics.

Ards mechanics can perform work on timing belts

When you need to have work carried out on your cam belt you will have to locate a mechanic in Ards. Utilising Help Fix Car will enable you to find mechanic firms in Ards to work on the timing belt of your vehicle. Mechanics in Ards are able to perform a wide range of timing belt tasks. If you think that you have a damaged timing belt they can be used to inspect your timing belt. If a problem with your cam belt is present our timing belt mechanics in Ards can carry out repairs, or you can have your cam belt replaced should this not be possible. A cam belt tightening may need to be carried out, or you may have a timing belt that is too tight. It could be that you need to have a realigning of your cam belt. You may need to have them synchronise your cam belt and crankshaft, or you might have to have both your timing belt and water pump replaced at the same time, you can locate Ards timing belt specialists when you visit Help Fix Car.

Timing belt maintenance

You can end up with serious damage to your engine should your car's timing belt fail. The best outcome may be the hiring of a tow-truck, with serious damage to your engine being the worst possible outcome. By ensuring that you keep your cam belt maintained to a high standard you can make sure that you are less likely to ever need an emergency cam belt replacement. The best way of ensuring that your cam belt lasts as long as it should be expected is to check it for signs of damage on a regular basis. If the belt's rubber is looking worn, you have cracks in the teeth of your cam belt, or there are teeth missing, or your timing belt has been covered in oil or anti-freeze we would advise you having it replaced by a registered Ards cam belt specialist, which can be obtained when you go to Help Fix Car. It is of paramount importance that you ensure that the tension of your cam belt is correct as if your belt is too tight it can cause the belt to slip out of position, often followed by serious damage to your engine.

©2012 HelpFixCar