Can a timing belt be sheared off a car?
The vehicle ran flawlessly for 5000 miles, then while on a trip to visit family on the freeway traveling at highway speeds the vehicle stalled and refused to restart. After towing the vehicle to a shop it was checked and the new timing belt had all of the teeth sheared off of it.
What happens if the timing belt skips a tooth?
If the timing belt or chain skips a tooth or more, the engine can and often does stall. The top end of the engine doesn’t turn in time with the bottom end. This can cause the engine not only to stall, but can cause internal engine damage in some cases.
Why do timing belts need to be tensioned?
The beauty of timing belts are that they have self-tensioners that are made to keep the belt tension constant to prevent loss of power or worse yet to keep the engine from jumping time and ruining the engine. They have idler pulley’s that also keep the tension constant as the belts age and stretch.
When did the first timing belt come out?
Originally made of a band with metal clips this proved to be expensive and noisy, in 1945 Singer in conjunction with Uniroyal which is now Gates Inc. developed the timing belt. Now to all you guys from the 50’s and 60’s typically every engine had a timing chain.
What’s the average life of a timing belt?
Depending on what schedule you may read, including information distributed by the manufacturers themselves, the average life span of a timing belt is between 60,000 and 105,000 miles or after 7 to 10 years regardless of mileage. Most manufacturers state that going more than 80,000 to 90,000 miles on the original belt is flirting with danger.
When is the best time to replace a cam belt?
Most car manufacturers specify time and mileage intervals but these stipulations are for whatever arrives first. If your car is ten years-old but has only covered 10,000 miles and the manufacturer’s interval is 10-years or 100,000 miles, do not try to eke out the belt’s life further, because the belt deteriorates with the passing of time.
How much does it cost to replace a timing belt?
In some cases, pistons can be holed, cylinder heads can be damaged and camshafts can be broken. To repair a severely damaged modern engine, the cost will be in excess of several thousands of pounds and a full replacement unit may prove to be the most economical solution.