JS Auto Repairs - Timing Belts

Timing belts fail without warning and on some vehicles, are almost as hard to check as they are to change. In most cases, your only protection is to change the belt at the recommended intervals. Timing belt replacement is not a cheap job but it is far less costly than if the belt breaks causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.

A real life example of this that happened early in 2006 is as follows. We will not name the actual driver but for all intent and purposes call him Mr. Smith.

We serviced Mr. Smith's vehicle in the latter part of 2005 and advised him to check the Timing Belt history for his vehicle, this being a 16 valve double overhead cam engine. Mr. Smith failed to do this and early in 2006 the timing belt broke whilst travelling at 70mph causing extensive engine damage. On removing the cylinder head, it was discovered that all 16 valves had been hit by the pistons, breaking 3 of them. On removing all the valves it was further discovered that all 16 valve guides were broken. On inspection of the rest of the cylinder head components it was evident that one of the camshaft lobes had "flattened". The cause of the belt failure was a seized timing belt guide that the belt runs round. The cost of repair for this vehicle totalled over £1000. If the timing belt kit had been replaced at a cost of around £200 this damage would not have occurred.

Therefore it is imperative that you check your timing belt history and if you are in any doubt replace it immediately as this will be cost effective in the long run.

JS Auto Repairs can replace your timing belt for you. Just call us on 01702 316137
to arrange this special service.


	JS Auto Repairs - Timing Belts Certain engines with overhead camshafts have timing belts that have a limited life span. Car manufacturers use these belts instead of more durable chains because chains are noisier and cost more to manufacture. The job of the timing belt is to turn the camshaft at exactly one half the speed of the crankshaft while maintaining a precise alignment. This means that the crankshaft will make two revolutions for every revolution of the camshaft. The camshaft causes the intake and exhaust valves to open and close in time with the pistons which move up and down in the cylinders. The valves must open and close at exactly the right time in relationship to the piston movement in order for the engine to run properly. There are two types of engines that use timing belts, Interference Engines and Non- interference Engines. On an interference engine, if the timing belt slips or breaks, the piston can crash into an open valve causing serious engine damage by bending valves and breaking pistons. Non-interference engines will usually not self destruct, but in either case if the belt fails, the engine will immediately shut down leaving you stranded.