What are the effects of improperly installed timing belt?
When your timing belt is broken, you won’t be able to drive your car at all. Oftentimes, the timing belt will break while the car is in motion. This can cause serious damage to cylinder head hardware like rocker arms, push rods, or valves.
How often should you check your timing belt?
every 60,000 to 100,000 miles
Since the timing belt has such an important job, it’s crucial to have it replaced regularly. In most cases, there is no indication that a timing belt is becoming worn. Often times, it just breaks. That’s why most manufacturers recommend you have your vehicle’s timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
When is the best time to change the timing belt?
They can go as long as 100,000 miles although it’s always a good idea to change it before then. Belt failure can cause extensive damage to the valves, pistons and other internal parts of the engine. The cost of changing the timing belt is a bargain when you consider the cost to replace the entire engine.
Can a loose timing belt cause a check engine light?
Symptom 3: Check engine light illuminated. Though noise is the most common symptom, a loose timing belt can also cause a check engine light. The check engine light can come on and set a code for a valve timing problem. This is because the valve timing can become out of sync due to the belt not being tight.
What should be the distance between timing belt pulleys?
The straightedge should be long enough to span the distance between the two outside edges of the timing belt pulley faces. Lay the ruler across the face of the two timing belt pulleys, if the two timing belt pulley faces are not even with the straightedge than you have parallel misalignment.
Can you inspect the teeth of a timing belt?
Next flip the belt over slightly to inspect the teeth. You can do this at the point that’s farthest away from both pulleys. You may not be able to actually “flip” the belt, but you can sneak some looks at the underside of the belt all the way around.