What are Timing Belts
A timing belt might not sound like such a big deal when it comes to cars, but it is. The battery makes the car able to start and powers the lights and radio when the engine is not running. The engine makes the car run. The brakes stop the car. What does the timing belt do? The timing belt is actually what makes the valves within the engine work. The belt runs along parts of the motor that keep the valves opening and closing, which allows for the motor to run and power the vehicle down the road. Without a timing belt, the engine would not run and the car would not go down the road.
Inspecting Timing Belts
Just as everything else on your car, timing belts need to be inspected regularly. When one is inspecting the timing belt, they look for cracks or wear marks within the belt. If one of the grooves in the belt is damaged, it might make the engine stop working or make it not run as smoothly as it should. If the belt is not replaced when a groove is found or a crack spotted, it could grow worse and make the engine run even worse or stop completely. Any mechanic can inspect a timing belt when you take the car in for a routine oil change or suspect you need to have the timing belt changed, simply because it has been a few years since the last time you had it checked. A timing belt should be part of a regular safety inspection on your car every six months and at the very longest, each year.
Replacing Timing Belts
The process of replacing a timing belt is fairly easy, as long as it happens before it breaks and causes damage to the engine. The timing belt is usually made of enforced rubber and slips over the gears of the engine components. The timing belt’s actual removal and installation is different in every car, due to the make and model changes within brands and sizes of engines. If the timing belt has broken, it might be able to be replaced before it causes damage to the engine.
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