Automotive engine disaster could happen if your car’s timing belt breaks. We here at Boulevard Auto Care hope you never end up in this situation. It’s important to have the timing belt changed every 60,000 miles to avoid the catastrophe that occurs when the timing belt breaks. Let’s talk about timing belts, what they do, and what happens when they fail so you have a better understanding as to why the expense of getting the belt changed is far less than the expense of a broken timing belt.
What Does the Timing Belt Do?
If your engine uses a timing belt, it cannot operate without it. The timing belt connects the crankshaft and the camshaft to control when the pistons go up and down and the valves open and close. This belt looks like a giant reinforced rubber band that has teeth on the inner side of it. As it spins, it is responsible for synchronizing the opening and closing of the valves so that the pistons do not crash into them. The crankshaft is what turns the timing belt.
When Should I Get My Timing Belt Changed?
As we said above, the timing belt should be changed every 60,000 miles. If, at that time, the belt is still in good shape, you may be able to go a little bit longer before you need to change the timing belt. The maximum mileage is 105,000 miles, but an inspection at 60,000 miles will give you a better idea of whether the belt is cracking and wearing down. In rare cases, the belt can crack and wear down before 60,000 miles, but this is usually caused by a manufacturer’s defect.
What Happens When the Timing Belt Breaks?
Your engine will stop when the timing belt breaks. What’s going on inside the engine, however, is what causes severe engine damage. Depending on how the belt breaks, it will flail about inside of the engine and damage the pistons and valves. If it doesn’t damage the valves itself, the pistons crashing into them will because your engine timing is immediately thrown off by the broken belt. Depending on the force of the timing belt and pistons, a broken timing belt can actually damage your crankshaft and engine block. When you compare the cost to replace a timing belt (about $500 to $700 on average) to the thousands of dollars of damage a broken timing belt causes, it’s easy to see replacing the timing belt is the way to go.
If your European automobile has a timing belt and you’ve driven it 60,000 miles or more, schedule an appointment with Boulevard Auto Repair in Sherman Oaks, CA, to have the belt inspected and replaced if necessary.
