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Types of timing belt

There are a number of different sorts of cam belt and the sort that you will require will depend on what sort of vehicle that you have. There are two types of engines that require a cam belt. Timing bets for interference engines need to be rigorously maintained due to the closeness between the pistons and valves in your vehicles engine. Timing bets for non-interference engines need a lot less maintaining as the pistons and valves are spaced further apart. The teeth of your cam belt may be of a number of shapes. Triangular toothed timing belts tend to be older, whereas newer belts will more often than not have rounded teeth. Cam belts will usually be made from rubber which has been strengthened by other materials like Twaron or Kevlar, although manufacturers tend to make use of materials such as HSN nowadays.

Issues with timing belts

Difficulties with the timing belt of a car are one of the biggest causes of vehicles suffering breakdowns. Timing belts can be hit with a number of issues and recognising them in time can be the difference between breaking down or not. The worst case scenario is your cam belt snapping completely, and this can happen for a number of reasons. Timing belts can get over tight leading to them emitting loud squeaking noises. If your timing belt looses its teeth there will be no way to turn the cam shaft. The camshaft will also be stopped from turning if the timing belt is not aligned properly. Cam belts can be damaged as a result of oil exposure affecting its precise dimensions and preventing it from working efficiently. Timing belts can sometimes loosen with them ending up slid out of position. Timing belts can also snap as a result of corrosion.

What is a timing belt?

Timing belts provide a connection between a vehicle's crankshaft and camshaft. It is covered with 'teeth' that are different shapes dependant upon the type of belt you have. Timing belts that are new will have rounded teeth, whereas older timing belts usually have teeth of a triangular shape. Timing belts are typically made out of rubber and are then strengthened with materials like kevlar to make sure that they last longer. Cam belts made recently tend to be made from resistant materials like HSN so that they do not suffer damage due to the high temperatures of engines. Cam belts that are modern are much narrower in order to lessen their weight, to generate less friction.

Ensure that you maintain your timing belt to extend its lifespan

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 Barnet 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.

Timing belt jobs for Barnet mechanics

When you need to have work carried out on your cam belt you will have to locate a mechanic in Barnet. Utilising Help Fix Car will enable you to find mechanic firms in Barnet to work on the timing belt of your vehicle. Mechanics in Barnet 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 Barnet 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 Barnet timing belt specialists when you visit Help Fix Car.

What role does a timing belt play?

Cam belts are rubber belts 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.