Tag: chain

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Replacing Your Car’s Timing Belt

Knowing When To Change A Timing Belt

Changing a timing belt on your vehicle can be a very time consuming. This is due to the fact that there are a lot of components under your hood that must be removed before you can even get to your vehicle’s timing belt. This is why it is best to change a timing belt at the same time that you are planning on doing other repairs and maintenance practices to your vehicle such as putting on a replacement water pump or changing belts like the serpentine, air conditioner or water pump belt.
Timing belts tend to begin breaking down at around 60,000 miles. You will notice the power to your vehicle begin to slow down, the fuel efficiency of your vehicle can be affected as well as your vehicle showing signs of working harder.
How To Change A Timing Belt or Timing Chain
Different vehicles have different patterns for changing a timing belt or timing chain. The best thing to do when you want to change the timing belt is to look over your owner’s manual that is specific for your make and model vehicle. You can also purchase an automobile repair manual that is designed specifically for the needs of your automobile at any automotive repair shop in your local area.
The basics to changing a timing belt on the vehicle however are pretty much uniform. The steps to do this are as follows:
Step 1. Before you can replace the timing belt on any vehicle it is a good idea to let the vehicle sit overnight so that the engine is completely cool and there is a reduced chance of experiencing serious burns from the engine.
Step 2. As it is with most vehicle repairs you must first disconnect any power supply to the vehicle. This means that the battery cables must be removed from the battery terminal and tied back so that there is no risk of them touching the posts or other parts of the vehicle while working.
Step 3. Place blocks in front and behind the wheels of your vehicle so that there is not chance of the vehicle rolling and accidentally causing injuries to you or others who may be around.
You will now need to remove any obstructions that may be in the way of getting to your timing belt. This includes:
Step 4. Make sure that the air intake assembly to your vehicle is completely removed.
Step 5. Locate the pulley that powers the supply to your water pump if this is in the way on your vehicle. You will need to loosen the bolt holding this pulley in place.
Step 6. For some vehicles it may be necessary to do the same for other equipment such as the power steering pump. This will require you to loosen the bolt and remove the belt that is around the pulley. You can then unbolt the power steering pump and move it out of your way.
Step 7. Line up the mark on your crankshaft pulley to the O that is on the timing scale with a large wrench. You can find the timing scale molded on your vehicle engine block.
Step 8. Using the right sized socket you will have to removed the bolts that are holding the timing belt cover on. When you have the bolts removed you can then pull off the timing belt cover.
Step 9. Inspect the timing belt tensioned bearings for any looseness or noise. If these problems exist you will need to replace the timing belt tensioned bearings as well.
Step 10. Locate your camshaft and check to makes sure there are no leaks in the crankshaft or camshaft seals. If you do notice leaking this could be an early sign that there will be premature failure for your new timing belt. It is best to replace these seals now instead of waiting for bigger problems and the chance of having to do all of this work again.
Step 11. For most vehicle makes and models you should now be able to locate the timing belt. Make sure that all timing marks on your belt are properly lined up. Loosen the timing belt tensioned and you will then be able to remove the timing belt very easily. Make sure that the camshaft and crankshaft for your vehicle’s engine are secured and that they do not move while your timing belt is off of your vehicle.
Step 12. Place your new timing belt on the same way that you removed it. Make any tension adjustments to the timing belt as necessary. Inspect the new belt to make sure that it is fitting over the teeth for the timing sprockets correctly. Makes sure that you do not over tighten the belt.
Step 13. When replacing the timing belt cover install a new gasket to seal the cover correctly. Do not use an old gasket as this will not seal properly.
Step 14. If you had to remove any pumps at the beginning of this project you will now have to hook them back up again. This includes the water pump, power steering pump as well as any other accessories that may have gotten in the way at the beginning of this project.
Step 15. Visually inspect all timing marks to make sure that they are still aligned correctly.
Step 16. Reinstall your vehicle’s air intake assembly that was removed in the beginning.
Step 17. Reconnect your vehicle’s battery. Make sure that there is no corrosion around the posts or the battery cables while you are at this step.
Step 18. Turn on your vehicle and look for any problem areas such as leaks that there may be prior to driving your vehicle. Do not hesitate or postpone any repairs that may be needed.

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Replace Your Timing Chain

What you will need:

1. Combination Wrenches
2. A Socket Set
3. Torque Wrench
3. A Harmonic Balancer Puller
5. A Three-jaw Gear Puller
6. Screwdrivers
7. Hammer and Punch
8. Gasket Scraper
9. Timing Light
10. Tube of Silicone Sealer
11. Timing Chain Cover Gasket Set
12. New Timing Chain and Gears
13. Drain Pan
14. Antifreeze
15. Jack
16. Jack stands

Before You Start:

Follow these instructions carefully. Read and be sure you understand them before you begin.
Gather together all of your tools and supplies before you begin.
Allow plenty of time to do the job so you don’t have to hurry.
Remember that these are general instructions. For more detailed instructions pertaining to your specific vehicle, consult an appropriate repair manual.
Safety is important whenever you’re working around machinery. Beware of hot objects, sharp instruments and hazardous materials.
Don’t substitute tools unless you’re sure you won’t compromise either your safety or the performance of your vehicle.
Never work on a vehicle that is only supported by a jack. Use jack stands to support the vehicle while you work. Work on a solid, level surface. Never jack a car up on dirt or grass.
Why Replace Your Timing Chain?

Over time, wear on internal working parts of your engine will spell the need for replacement. One of the internal working parts that wear is the timing chain and timing sprockets. The timing chain and sprockets are the connecting line between the crankshaft and the camshaft. As the crankshaft turns, via the timing chain, it drives the camshaft that operates the engine’s valves via the lifters, push rods and rocker arm assemblies The timing of the valves opening and closing at precise intervals is crucial for proper engine operation. As the timing chain and sprockets wear, this precise timing of the valves gradually changes, eventually to a point where replacement is necessary.

Telltale signs of worn out timing chains are:

Rough idle.
Sluggish performance and poor economy.
Sudden engine performance change including the inability to start the engine.
Intermittent backfire through the intake manifold.
Inconsistent ignition timing or a clattering noise coming from the front of the engine.
Before starting the disassembly procedures, I would suggest cleaning the engine with an engine degreaser. A clean engine is easier to work on and helps prevent dirt or contamination from entering the engine during disassembly.

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Differen types of car engines

Engine to a car is like a heart to a human person. It functions by the principle of combustion or burning the fuel. There are different methods of classifying car engines. This classification is usually done according to the number of cylinders, the type of fuel used, and the arrangement of cylinders.
Type of fuel used
A car engine may either use petrol (gasoline) or diesel. Petrol engines use spark plugs for ignition. Diesel engines on the other hand use compression for ignition. The diesel engine is quite heavier than the gasoline engine. The gasoline (petroleum) engines are more common than diesel engines.
Number of cylinders
A car engine can have from three to twelve cylinders. The number of cylinders affects the power of the car. An eight-cylinder engine would be more powerful than a four-cylinder engine, though it would also consume a lot more fuel.
Arrangement of cylinders
In a car engine, you will find the cylinders are usually arranged in one of two ways. The cylinders could be inclined in a “V” shape or in a straight row. In that case, V-8 engine is an engine with eight cylinders inclined in a V shape. The earliest form of engine was known as the rotary cylinder engine. The cylinders in a rotary engine are arranged in a round manner with the crankshaft surrounded by a revolving block of cylinders. However, the rotary engines are quite rare today.
Other classifications
Engines may also be classified as to how they cool. A car may either use liquid coolant or air coolant. A car engine may also be classified according to the number of strokes, that is, four stroke, eight stroke and so on. Final thing to add here is that car engines can also have either a timing chain or a timing belt. Timing belt serves to regulate the timing of the valves of the engine. Timing chains may last longer than timing belts as they do not stretch and wear out due to tension.

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Timing Belt Symptoms of Failure

The failure of a timing belt is one of the most common reasons why cars break down. If you are familiar with the timing belt, how it functions and how to identify whether or not something is wrong with it, then you can prevent serious damage to your car and you’ll know when to replace it. Knowledge about timing belt symptoms will save you from having to experience being stuck on the side of a road because of a broken timing belt.
Belt failure
By definition, a timing belt is a chain or cam belt that is part of a car’s internal combustion engine. It connects a crankshaft to a camshaft which control the opening and closing of a car’s valves. Without a properly functioning timing belt, an engine’s pistons would cease to function hence a car would be unable to run. Worn timing belt can no longer perform its job properly this is why old timing belts can lead to performance problems with a car.
Now there are a number of timing belt symptoms to watch out for: if your car starts belching more exhaust than usual, if the car’s engine vibrates so much that it causes the entire car to shake, if you experience difficulty in starting the car or if you hear strange noises coming from the car’s engine. These are just some of the common timing belt symptoms. If you experience one or more of these it would be ideal to consult with a mechanic as soon as possible.
If you’ve ignored the symptoms and your car conks out and stops running it will probably have been too late. By this point the belt has probably already broken. The amount of collateral damage to the other parts of the engine will be determined by the type of engine. Interference engines will tend to experience a lot of collateral damage during a timing belt failure. Valve damage is not uncommon during these cases. Non-interference engines tend not to experience as much damage but will still be costly to fix.
So remember, once you notice these timing belt symptoms it would be best to get your car checked. Waiting for the damage to become grave is definitely not something you’ll want to do.