What can cause a cam belt to break?

What can cause a cam belt to break?

With the heat and friction inside the engine, the rubber material will become worn with age and miles. Rubber teeth may wear down and no longer be able to grip the gears. This often results in a slip of the timing belt and potential damage to the engine. The timing belt may also begin to crack under stress.

What happens if your timing belt tensioner is bad?

If the tensioner is bad, it can cause the belt to come loose or cause the pulley to seize, making the belt come off. Knowing some of the signs of a bad belt tensioner can help you to prevent serious engine damage due to a timing belt failure. The timing belt tensioner is used to do just that – keep tension on the timing belt.

What happens when the cam belt is not right?

Decline in oil pressure – if the timing of the cam belt is not right, it can skip causing fragments to break off the camshaft. These pieces sometimes fall into the oil pan generating a dramatic drop in pressure. If this happens, it could mean a complete engine rebuild.

What does a loose belt tensioner sound like?

If the drive belt noise resembles a squeal or a squeak, it is possible that the belt tensioner is loose. This is especially the case when starting the engine first thing in the morning. Since the tensioner is not able to maintain the correct tension on the belts, it produces a squealing or squeaking sound.

What causes oil to leak from the cam belt?

Oil leaks – check in your favourite parking positions for patches of oil. If the cam belt is damaged, then this will result in oil leaking from the timing belt cover. Decline in oil pressure – if the timing of the cam belt is not right, it can skip causing fragments to break off the camshaft.

If the tensioner is bad, it can cause the belt to come loose or cause the pulley to seize, making the belt come off. Knowing some of the signs of a bad belt tensioner can help you to prevent serious engine damage due to a timing belt failure. The timing belt tensioner is used to do just that – keep tension on the timing belt.

When do you replace the cam belt and tensioner?

Firstly , when the cam belt was replaced at 119,000 miles , did the garage replace both the cambelt & tensioner & also the pump drive belt & tensioner ? Cam belt & pump belt are at opposite ends of the engine & must be replaced at the same time .

What happens if your car cam belt fails?

Leave it to break, and you could cause untold damage to the rest of the car. If it fails, then the knock on effects can cause the engine’s pistons and valves to collide. Your car will break down, and it’s likely that the repair bill will be very hefty. Yes, replacing the cam belt comes in at a significant cost.

Why is my cam belt bent on my VW T4?

Thus leaving a pump belt and tensioner that had allready done 80,000 plus miles . When the pump tensioner fails it sets up a vibration down the cam shaft into the cam belt and basicaly rattles the new cabelt tensioner to peices .