Without question, your engine’s timing belt is the most important maintenance item in your car. The worlds junkyards are filled with cars with engines damaged due to timing belt failures. Here’s what you should know so you can avoid that fate:
First, what is a timing belt? A timing belt is a heavy duty ribbed rubber belt that couples the crankshaft to camshaft(s). Essentially, it keeps the valves in the top half of the engine in sync with the pistons and crankshaft in the bottom half.
Do all car’s and trucks have timing belts? If you have an older car from the year 2000 and before, odds are you have a timing belt. Today, some cars and trucks have timing belts and some have metal timing chains. Timing chains are a far better design because they generally don’t break like belts can. (In theory, timing chains can last the life of the engine.) How do you find out which you have? Well, Google it or consult your owner’s manual and see if timing belt maintenance is listed.
How often should I change my timing belt? Auto and truck manufacturers employ various schedules for timing belt replacement, but the rule of thumb is some 60,000 miles, or 5 years, whichever comes first. If you are in doubt as to how old your timing belt is, see your local dealer and have it examined. A mechanic can quickly judge a timing belt just by looking at its condition.
What Happens If My Timing Belt Snaps? Well, that depends. There are two types of engine timing designs to consider first “interference” and “non-interference”.
An interference type engine means that the valve’s stroke and piston’s stroke overlap the same space in the cylinder but at different times. The timing belt essentially keeps them from hitting each other. If the timing belt snaps, the valves will smack into the pistons causing bent valves or even cylinder head damage, and possibly piston and cylinder wall damage.
In a non-interference engine, the pistons and valves don’t overlap, so if the timing belt snaps in two, no valve or cylinder damage occurs, the engine just stops running. To fix it, a mechanic just needs to pop a new belt on and you are good to go.
How Much Does It Cost To Change My Timing Belt? Generally speaking, a lot of work is involved when changing a timing belt. A typical job would be around $600 but with some engines, it can be higher. Your service center will be able to give you more information.
Source: Reedman-Toll Jaguar
