Can I Replace The Timing Belt Myself?
You can change the timing belt yourself at home if you have been into vehicle fixing for a long time, and you repair and fix your car all the time. However, fixing a timing belt is not an easy task and requires skills and knowledge of the mechanical part of the vehicle.
Getting a timing belt can be very expensive, so most people try to fix it themselves at home. But you should be aware that it can be dangerous and require specific tools.
So if you do not have any idea about the vehicle and its repairs, leave the work to the mechanic and experts; otherwise, you can damage some other part of the vehicle while fixing it.
Table of Contents
- Is Replacing A Timing Belt A Big Job?
- What Are The Most Common Timing Belt Issues?
- What Happens If A Timing Belt Breaks While Driving?
- How Do I Check My Timing Belt?
- How Much Time Does It Take To Change The Timing Belt?
Is Replacing A Timing Belt A Big Job?
A timing belt is a critical part of your car’s engine, which regulates when the pistons are allowed to go up and down. The timing belt keeps the valves and crankshaft in place, so it’s crucial to replace it as soon as possible if one breaks. But replacing a timing belt is a big job, which can be very costly.
In addition, a timing belt replacement is an expensive job that most people don’t want to undertake without knowing what they’re doing.
Most mechanics will tell you that replacing the engine timing belt is a dangerous job that requires specialized tools. Unfortunately, most mechanics are right about this; it’s easy to break an arm or leg when working under the hood of a car.
But unlike with many other jobs, you can probably take care of your timing belt replacement without ever stepping foot into a shop or spending money on tools.
With proper knowledge of tools and vehicles and some common sense, this job can be done by any do-it-yourself mechanic handy with a wrench, and you don’t even have to take time off from work.
Engine diary
What Are The Signs Of Wearing Out The Timing Belt?
You all know that the timing belt is an important part of the transmission system, and thus you need to pay attention to the calling signs and symptoms of wearing out of the timing belt.
In addition, you can increase your repairing budget if you do not replace the timing belt before it wears out and tears.
Thus here are the few signs and symptoms which you should watch out for :
- Ticking noise – This sound means that the belt is worn out. The sound is caused by friction between the belt and the inner driving shaft.
- Slipping of the engine – When the engine is slipping, there is not enough power to move the car.
- Burning smell from the engine – This burning smell is the smell of burning rubber caused due to friction between the belt and inner driving shafts.
- Vibration – When you hear a loud noise coming from different engine parts or when the car is vibrating, the timing belt has worn out.
- Oil leaks – If you find oil leaks near the motor, you may need to change or repair the timing belt.
A good advice is that replacing this should be your top priority. Because if it gets replaced, you can enjoy long driving periods and save a lot of money on mechanical repairs in the future.
What Are The Most Common Timing Belt Issues?
A few issues can arise with your timing belt if it isn’t properly maintained. One of the most common problems is that you may experience noise when you start up your vehicle.
This is usually due to something wrong with your water pump or the timing belt becoming loose and no longer running in sync with the crankshaft to turn it. The other issue that could develop from inadequate maintenance on a timing belt would be an improperly running engine.
If your timing belt gets too loose, it can go too fast and not have enough tension. This will cause the valves in your engine to be open at the wrong time and won’t allow the pistons to go up and down correctly. This can drastically affect your engine and stress it out.
What Happens If A Timing Belt Breaks While Driving?
The timing belt connects your engine’s crankshaft to the camshaft, which helps control the valves in your engine. Unfortunately, a broken timing belt puts an incredible amount of stress on an engine.
The camshaft can rotate independently of the crankshaft when a timing belt breaks. If it snaps, then one valve will open when it’s not supposed to, someone else’s will close sooner than they should, and yet another won’t open.
This can cause major stress and damage your engine and many other parts. In addition, this can cause immense damage to an engine as the valves will no longer be in sync with the pistons.
Depending on where your timing belt snaps, different valves may be affected and open at the wrong time or not open at all.
This is very stressful on an engine and can even lead to catastrophic failure of parts in your engine. Thus, if the timing belt breaks, your engine will stall, leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.
How Do I Check My Timing Belt?
To check the belt, you have to remove it first from the crankshaft and then look outside of the belt for marks and cracks. The rubber of the belt should be smooth with no pieces missing.
If you see a lot of cracks on the outer side, you have got a problem.
Now properly inspect the teeth of the belt and if even a single tooth is missing or broken, change the timing belt immediately.
It’s essential to know how to inspect your car’s timing belt. This action can save you a costly repair, but it also helps ensure that you don’t damage the crankshaft or cause an engine failure. If these problems occur, it could lead to thousands of dollars in repairs.
To avoid possible engine damage, you should always check it before or after any long road trip to ensure that everything is as it should be.
However, suppose you live in a part of the country that experiences extreme weather conditions, such as hot summers or freezing winters. In that case, it is in your best interest to check your timing belt during any extreme weather changes.
How Much Time Does It Take To Change The Timing Belt?
Changing the timing belt can easily set up your four to six hours of the day.
As changing the timing belt is a professional and challenging task, the time also depends upon how skilled you are doing it yourself.
An experienced mechanic may take less time than you as an expert. The time is taken to change the timing belt also depends on your car and vehicle.
