Engine Timing Belt
The timing belt is a critical component of the engine and keeps the valve train in time with the pistons in the engine. Unless you are very mechanically inclined, we would not recommend trying to replace the timing belt on your own. We advise purchasing your own parts, and taking the car to an experienced repair facility. On most vehicles produced after 1975 that utilized an overhead cam, use a timing belt or cam belt to drive the camshaft.
The timing belt made of a rubber material with cogs on the belt that connects the crankshaft to the camshaft. The camshaft turns at half the speed of the crankshaft, this is why that if you removed the cam belt cover you would see that the cam belt sprocket is 2 times the size of the crankshaft timing belt sprocket. The rule of thumb for most service professionals is making sure you change your timing belt every 60,000 miles. If you do not know when the last time the timing belt in your car or truck was changed, We recommend purchasing a new timing belt kit, or at a minimum at new timing belt and a tensioner, and getting them replaced a quick as possible.
Heat, Oil and chemicals are the big enemy of a timing belt. If you live or operate at extreme conditions you may want to change your timing belt at earlier intervals. Oil, gas and antifreeze will also deteriorate the timing belt at an accelerated rate. So if you see oil or Antifreeze on the timing belt cover, be sure to get the belt checked immediately. Most service professionals agree that there are other very important items that need to be looked at when servicing or changing the timing belt.
The first recommendation is to change the idler pulley and the timing belt tensioner. The other item often overlooked is the water pump. On most vehicles equipped with timing belts, the timing belt is used to drive the water pump. Do not forget to take the opportunity to change the water pump at the time you change the timing belt, as the new belt will put more tension on the water pump bearing causing the old pump to leak shortly after the new timing belt is installed.
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