The starter motor will engage, but the car won’t turn over – it won’t even tease you, there will be no response. Of course, if the timing belt breaks while you’re driving, you definitely notice! But simply put, a broken timing belt means the car will not start, and there is possibly other damage to the engine. Fortunately, it’s difficult to ignore the problem of your car not starting, so the chances of the timing belt being diagnosed as the cause is much better than if you keep driving and ignore the problem until it became critical. There are a lot of reasons your car won’t start, and a broken timing belt is one of the more costly ones. Engine misfiring is a sign of trouble that should be checked as soon as possible, otherwise you are risking serious engine damage. If this timing is off, the engine will run erratically, if it runs at all. If the belt is worn or loose, it will slip and cause cylinders to open and close earlier than they should. As mentioned earlier in the article, the timing belt controls the precisely timed action of the pistons and valves inside the engine cylinders to ensure the valves open in unison with the pistons. Engine runs rough or misfires.Ī worn-out belt will affect the engine’s timing, and possibly cause it to misfire. Additionally, if the camshafts don’t have enough to operate properly, they will lock up, which can cause the timing belt to break. If the tensioner has no oil pressure, the belt will become loose and possibly disengage from the pulleys and/or break. There is a tensioner that keeps the belt taut, and that tensioner is pressurized by the engine oil.
This sound can also indicate low oil pressure, which in turn can affect the timing belt.
Car timing belt diagnoses series#
Because the belt is attached through a series of pulleys to the engine’s cam and crankshaft, and those complex systems are regulated by the timing belt, if something is amiss on either side – belt or cam/crankshaft – this sound is an indicator of trouble. When the timing belt wears out, it can cause a ticking or clicking sound to emanate from the engine. Ticking or clicking noises in the engine. Pay attention to these indicators so you don’t end up with costly repairs or, worse yet, a ruined engine.
Now that you understand the importance of timing belts…Įven though it’s difficult to get at the timing belt to do a visual or physical check, there are some signs you can be aware of that hint at trouble with the timing belt. Either scenario is not good, and both can require costly repairs – but a failed timing belt might only result in engine header repairs, whereas a failed timing chain might require a complete engine replacement (or a new car, if you prefer). The downside to chains is that if they fail, they cause a lot more damage than a rubber belt failure. Some manufacturers state that the chain does not need to be replaced and will last as long as the car.
Some manufacturers recommend changing the chain at certain intervals, but not the same as for rubber timing belts. Metal chains serve the same purpose as belts but last a lot longer. In larger engines that put out more power the timing belt is replaced with a timing chain, which looks much like a bicycle chain. Rubber timing belts are found in the vast majority of engines found in small cars and SUVs, particularly 4 cylinder – but some cars don’t have timing belts. Even though it’s made to last, it will need to be replaced eventually. It is subject to a lot of stress and strain as it works to keep things moving, all regulated in proper time. It’s usually made of industrial-strength rubber with nylon-reinforced cords inside. The timing belt is usually located inside a housing, or cover, that protects it from all the oil, grime, and dirt that can flow into and around an engine compartment.
The timing belt controls the action of the pistons and valves inside the engine cylinders to ensure the valves open in perfect time with the pistons. The timing belt rotates the engine’s cam and crankshaft in sync to ensure each cylinder fires at the right time. Related: Transmission Problems You Should Not Ignore What does a timing belt do, anyway? In a nutshell, your engine won’t run without a fully functional timing belt. An experienced mechanic will know the tell-tale signs of wear, as well as other potential issues that could be affecting the timing belt’s condition, operation, and other engine systems and functions. Timing belts should be left to expert mechanics who have experience dealing with them. Your car’s timing belt is sealed in its own housing, which makes it extremely difficult to check on your own. It can be difficult to tell if your timing belt is worn out.
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