Owning a car comes with many responsibilities. It means that you need to ensure that your car is kept up to date with maintenance and that you are making any repairs or replacements when needed. This is for the safety of not only you and your passengers, but also for others that are on the road. It is important that you have your car checked over by a mechanic when services are due to confirm if anything needs changing or replacing. There are certain components on a car that need to be replaced over time, even if they don’t look like they need to be replaced. This is because over time they start to wear and their effectiveness is reduced. One part that needs to be replaced is the timing belt.
What is the timing belt?
The timing belt is a rubber belt that is located at the front of the engine. It is an internal combustion engine. The timing belt works with pulleys and tensioners in the engine bay. It helps to synchonise the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft.
How will I know if my timing belt needs replacing?
Your timing belt will need to be replaced at different times throughout the life of your car. Through regular servicing of your car, timing belt replacements will be done. This is when the car reaches certain years of age or hits a certain number of driven kilometres.
If between these services you notice any of the below concerns, it may be time to get your car checked as you may require a replacement.
- Abnormal squeaking or noises coming from the engine bay
- Burning smell coming from the engine
What can happen if the timing belt is not replaced?
If you do not get your timing belt inspected and replaced when it needs to be, it can cause a few internal issues with your car. This includes the timing belt stretching. A stretched belt can result in reduced performance of the vehicle and trouble starting it.
The bearings that are used in the pulley and tensioners are unable to be relubricated. This means if they are not replaced, as they wear down it can cause them to become noisy.
Why is it so important to replace the timing belt?
The timing belt is a very important part of the engine. It helps to synchronize the camshaft and crankshaft. If it becomes worn out, there is the possibility of things shifting, breaking and moving into the wrong parts of the engine.
This can cause major damage to your engine and can also increase your risk of having an accident.
How do I organise an inspection?
If you have any concerns about your car outside of your regular servicing, give your mechanic a call. They can bring your car in and have a look over it, listen for any abnormal sounds and run checks on the engine.
From here if there is anything that needs work, they can discuss it with you and book it in.
Anything to do with the engine of your car should be given attention as soon as possible. This will help prevent unnecessary and expensive damage to your car. And it will also help to keep you and those around you safe on the roads.