Also known as a camshaft drive belt or cam belt, timing belts are toothed rubber belts used in the majority of vehicles on the road today. It is propelled by the engine’s crankshaft and drives the camshaft, which then opens and closes the valves of the engine.
Because the timing belt is so important it needs to be protected from damage, which is usually a plastic cover. Unfortunately because of this cover a scheduled timing belt replacement can be easily neglected. Another reason for neglect from the customer side is the costly nature of such a service but in reality you will be paying much more if your timing belt fails on the road.
What will happen if you don’t have your scheduled timing belt replacement?
If your timing belt replacement isn’t performed as scheduled you run the risk of the belt stripping it’s teeth or breaking altogether. If this happens the camshaft in the engine will stop rotating, which leaves valves open and protruding into the cylinders, as the crankshaft continues to rotate it can push the pistons into the valves causing major engine damage which is very costly and time consuming to fix.
When to have your timing belt replaced
Car manufacturers recommend your timing belt be replaced from 60,000km to 100,000km if the vehicle’s service history is known. If it isn’t, we suggest you have it replaced during your next service.
Remember, a timing belt replacement is only a fraction of the cost of repairing the damage a broken timing belt can cause. Don’t forget the inconvenience it brings when your car is out of action for an extended period.