EdupradaIt is very important to regularly check the condition of your timing belt because if it breaks you will have to change it completely but this can also cause serious damage your engine. Most of the time if the engine is damaged, the price of repairs can rise very quickly!
In this article, we detail the signs to look out for to prevent your timing belt from breaking!
What are the symptoms of a worn or broken timing belt?
The timing belt is fundamental to the proper functioning of your engine: it allows the camshaft, the injection pump and the crankshaft to be synchronized and also drive the water pump.
However, it is a wearing part that needs to be changed regularly. If you wait too long to replace a worn timing belt, you risk damaging your engine or even breaking it completely.
Here are the 5 signs that your timing belt is worn or broken:
Cracks or cracks
Difficult for a novice mechanic to detect a poor condition of the timing belt at first glance. This is why you should not hesitate to ask your mechanic to do it during a service, for example. If there are cracks, tears or cracks appear, breakage is imminent!
A squeak
If you hear a squeal it’s probably because the pulley bearings are worn a> and this will compromise the belt tension and alter the engine synchronization.
Caution: a leak can also alter the operation of the gear and cause this same type of high-pitched noise.
A squeak
When your belt is worn or loose, it no longer rubs correctly on the roller, and this is manifested by a significant squealing noise. /span>
Strong vibrations and metallic noises
If you notice metallic noises accompanied by vibrations : no doubt, the belt has completely broken. This means that the valves and pistons come into violent contact several times per second. They are causing very serious damage to your engine. You must urgently go to a mechanic.
Good to know: the accessory belt can also cause a shrill noise, but you you will quickly notice this because each of the accessories linked to it will present malfunctions (air conditioning system, alternator, etc.).
Ignition faults in your engine
A worn timing belt can cause difficulty starting your vehicle due to its impact on the combustion of the engine and the opening and closing of the valves of the engine.
What are the causes of a broken timing belt?
Your timing belt wears out over time by cracking, splitting or becoming loose. The reasons for a breakage are therefore simple:
- From strong variations in temperature;
- An oil leak or coolant ;
- A deterioration of the bearings of one of the rollers.
What are the signs of a poorly installed or offset timing belt?
Replacing a timing belt is very expensive: it costs €600 on average. However, it is necessary that it is carried out correctly otherwise it risks causing further malfunctions and damage. You will realize very quickly if this is the case. The symptoms of an improperly installed belt are much the same as those of a worn belt, except that they will occur after changing out a new belt.
Here are the signs that will indicate a poorly installed timing belt:
- A whistling sound from the belt: this indicates poor alignment of the part than a clicking belt, a sign of wear.
- Excess fuel consumption: the injection pump no longer doses the fuel correctly because it is no longer synchronized with the camshaft.
- Overheating of the engine: the water pump can no longer work correctly and no longer cools the engine adequately.
- Vibrations at the motor level: these will be due to the offset of the teeth of the belt, which no longer drive the pulleys correctly.
- stalls, engine jerks and misfires: they are caused by a malfunction of the valves and poor combustion of the engine, linked to the camshaft and the injection pump.
- Noises from the engine: a fault in the timing belt causes the components it drives to collide.
How to change a timing belt?
The timing belt change is one of the most complex interventions to carry out. This is a long and tedious procedure that is best left to a professional. However, if you have strong mechanical skills, here are the different steps to change your timing belt.
Necessary material :
- One distribution kit
- Seals
- Lubricant
- An adjustable wrench
- A screwdriver
Step 1: Purchase all necessary materials
Before you start changing the timing belt, go to a specialized store to buy all the equipment you will need: a new timing belt (it must be identical to the old one), seals, lubricant, etc. You will find commercially available timing belt replacement kits containing all the equipment.
Step 2: Access the Timing Belt
To access your timing belt, the operations may be more or less complex depending on the model of your car.
Start by disconnect your battery by disconnecting the cable from the negative terminal (be careful, you risk losing all the recorded data, remember to write down everything you need). You will then need to remove your alternator belt (this step is not mandatory and depends on the model of your car).
To remove the alternator belt, unbolt the bolts on the tensioner and loosen the belt until you can remove it. If necessary, also dismantle the power steering pump, the compressor or the alternator. On certain vehicles, you will also need to remove the lighter head.
Step 3: Stall the Engine
To stall your engine, you will have to rotate it so that the timing mark on your crankshaft pulley is on the same alignment than the 0° mark on your distribution scale. Once the engine is stalled, you will be able to remove the timing belt cover (in some cases, removing the damper pulley will be necessary to gain access to it).
Step 4: Remove the Dispenser Cover
To do this, unscrew the fixing screws using a screwdriver. You will find all the elements to dismantle in the maintenance manual for your car.
Step 5: Check the area around the timing belt
Check that there is no oil leak from the crankshaft, cam, valves or even the water pump. If you detect a leak, repair it before relaxing the belt.
Step 6: Loosen the Timing Belt
Start by loosening your timing belt tensioner without removing it entirely, then turn it to relax the belt. Then check the condition of the tensioner pulley.
Step 7: Install the new belt
Once the belt is relaxed, you will be able to remove it to replace it with the new one. Put the new timing belt in place and tension it following your manufacturer’s recommendations.
Step 8: Reassemble all the elements
Once the timing belt is in place and tensioned, you will have to reassemble all the elements that you had removed in the opposite direction. Then remember to reconnect the battery. Your timing belt is now changed!
Good to know: your belt is also used to operate the power steering and braking. When the timing belt breaks, these elements will stop working. As the engine will also stop almost suddenly and your wheels will start to lock up, remember to disengage to finish your race without incident.
How much does it cost to change the timing belt in your car?
Changing a timing belt is one of the most expensive operations in terms of cost. car maintenance. This intervention can cost you between 600 and 800€ depending on your type of vehicle.
This price can be explained in particular because of the duration of the intervention, estimated at six hours. It requires the removal of several fundamental parts of the vehicle and the replacement of the accessory belt kit along with the timing kit. labor therefore plays an important part in the total cost of changing a timing belt.
Refer to your manufacturer’s instructions in your maintenance booklet to find out what mileage to respect before changing your timing belt. However, if you notice the slightest symptom of wear before this, go to a specialist as quickly as possible to avoid damage to your vehicle.