Issues with timing beltsIssues with timing belts are one of the main reasons for car's breaking down. There can be a number of different problems with timing belts and you can avoid breaking down if you know how to spot them. The obvious problem is your timing belt snapping all together, but there are other issues that can lead to this happening. Cam belts can become too tight resulting in them becoming noisy, and making creaking sounds. Should the teeth fall out of your timing belt the cam shaft cannot be turned. The camshaft will also not be able to turn if the cam belt is aligned incorrectly. Timing belts can also become damaged by oil being compressed into the belt affecting its precise dimensions and preventing it from working efficiently. Timing belts can sometimes loosen resulting in them slipping out of their desired position. Cam belts are sometimes known to snap after becoming corroded. | Different cam belt typesTiming belts can be obtained in a range of types and the sort that you will require will depend on your particular vehicle. There are two types of engines that require a cam belt. Timing bets for interference engines need to be maintained in a meticulous manner as they sit very closely between the engine's valves and pistons. Cam belts for non-interference engines do not require half as much maintaining as the pistons and valves sit further apart in the engine. The teeth of your cam belt may be of a number of shapes. Trapezoid teeth make up older timing belts, whereas rounded teeth can be found on newer belts. Timing belts tend to be made from rubber which has been treated with materials like Kevlar to make it stronger, although more and more timing belts are made from modern materials such as HSN. |
What happens when timing belt problems are not addressedIf you fail to notice your cam belt is damaged, or even worse; failure to address the problem can have disastrous consequences for your car engine. If your vehicle has an interference engine not doing something when your cam belt is broken can be extremely damaging. If the timing belt in your car breaks then the vehicle will not even start up, but should it be running whilst it is damaged 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 Bury cam belt mechanics. | How to replace the timing belt of your vehicleShould you have an issue with the timing belt of your car's engine, it may be that you want to replace it by your own hand. The changing of a timing belt is hard to do and will take up a lot of your time, so should you have any doubts about your skills as a mechanic Help Fix Car can be used to track down cam belt specialists in Bury to have a new timing belt fitted. The changing of the cam belt will not be the part of the job that takes up the most time, but rather the near complete stripping of the engine that will be needed to grant you access to the timing belt. We would recommend that if you are looking to replace the timing belt of your car by your own hand rather than utilising Help Fix Car to track down a registered Bury cam belt specialist that you give yourself at least two days to perform the work. |
What timing belts areA cab belt is a belt that offers a connection between the crank and camshaft of a vehicle's engine. It has teeth running it's length that vary in shape depending on the sort of belt your vehicle has. Timing belts that are recent tend to have round teeth, whereas shaper teeth can be found on older belts. Cam belts are constructed from 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. | What is the role of a timing belt?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. |
Ensure that you maintain your timing belt to extend its lifespanYou 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 Bury 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. |
