Timing belt how long to change

If this happens, you might hear our technician say that the valves and pistons have collided and have bent the valves. If the timing belt breaks, the interference will cause major damage to your engine. If the timing belt on an older vehicle needs to be replaced, the repair cost might exceed the value of the car. If you have a non-interference engine and the belt breaks or skips a tooth on the sprocket the car will simply stop running or not start.

If you want to know whether you have a vehicle with an interference engine, click here. The recommended replacement according to mileage ranges from 60, miles to , miles. If your vehicle is 6 to 10 years old, it is recommended to replace the timing belt. A broken timing belt results in no compression between parts of your engine and getting it started will not be possible.

Oil can leak from behind the timing belt where the oil pump, various seals, and RTV are supposed to keep the engine from leaking oil. This can be one of the most expensive oil leaks possible when it comes to repair costs. The repair history of your vehicle can provide insight into the condition of your timing belt.

We replace your water pump at the same time as your timing belt. This is because the lifespan of a water pump is unknown. By doing this, you can avoid an expensive labor charge in the future. These parts of your engine will be checked and replaced. Although not included, we recommend you have us drain your water pump and replace it with fresh coolant. They can also tell you if you have an interference engine.

Protect your investment in your vehicle and take care to follow your recommended service intervals. Maintain the integrity of your manufacturer warranty by caring for your car. It not only saves dollars and cents, but it makes sense! Every manufacturer has their specific recommended years or mileage to replace the belt. For instance, Toyota recommends that the Camry replace their timing belts after 60, miles.

If you have a Ford Focus you can expect to replace the timing belt between 60, miles and 90, miles. The manual for the Volkswagen Jetta says that you can keep your timing belt until , miles. According to the US Department of Transportation, the average driver in America travels miles per year. At that rate, A timing belt should last between 4. The average Jetta owner would get all the way up to 8.

When the auto manufacturer recommends routine maintenance at a specific time or mileage, it's always good to pay attention to that. They stress test the parts in your vehicle to know how long they're going to remain at their optimal performance levels. So, if Ford or Chevy says that their timing belt is only going to last you for 80, miles, you should really consider replacing it around 80, miles. It can prevent a lot of damage further down the road if you get it done when you're supposed to.

That said, if the belt still seems to be in good working order once it hits the limit of use, can it keep going? A quick search of the internet will show you that there are a number of drivers who have experienced timing belts that have lasted for an extended period of time well beyond when it was recommended, they be changed.

Volkswagen , as we said, has some of the longest life spans for their timing belts based on their own recommendations. There are reports from mechanics and on mechanic websites that suggest some drivers have managed to keep their VW Golf's going for , miles on the same timing belt.

Other vehicles that have had long live timing belts include things like a Plymouth Voyager that topped , miles and a Chrysler LeBaron that got to , miles on the original timing belt. Hondas have been known to last for a while with timing belts up to , miles.

Honda typically recommends you change your belt closer to 60, miles, so this would definitely be an anomaly. At least one driver on CarTalk mentioned that they had a Honda Prelude that got to about , miles on the original timing belt. Another stated they had a Honda Accord that got up to , miles.

So, is it possible that you can get , miles out of your timing belt? There are a number of drivers of a variety of different vehicles that have experienced timing belts that have lasted , miles and there are even rumours of truly astounding feats like timing belts that managed to get to , miles. The thing you need to remember about this though is that these are remarkable anomalies. This is not the normal way a car works, and the odds on your timing belt lasting that long are fairly slim.

If you push your timing belts to the limit and beyond, then of course there's a good chance it's going to break. When that happens, you can experience some serious damage with your engine. If you run what is known as an interference engine, when your timing belt breaks the crankshaft will continue to move even though the camshaft has stopped.

The result of that is the valves and cylinders will not be opening even though the pistons will still be moving up and down. When the piston collides with a closed valve then you can end up causing serious damage to your engine, which includes warped pistons and valves, damage to the cam heads and more.

Read the car manual to locate the pump. Get all your tools ready and have bags and a pen to hand for labelling and storing parts you remove from the engine.

Make sure the engine is completely cool before you start. Loosen the bolts which hold the alternator in position. Then tap it gently to loosen the fan belt so you can remove it. Do the same with the power steering belt, sliding the belt out of the way to get to the timing case and crankshaft pulley.

Loosen the crankshaft pulley. There are usually two bolts or screws holding the mount in place, one on top and one on the side. Unscrew these and remove the mount. Next, loosen the bolts or screws holding the upper timing cover in place. This will reveal the crankshaft pulley, which you can now remove. Here are the areas you should mark: The top cam, making sure the paint mark lines up with the top of the cog and the gasket. The bottom cam, following the same process as above.

Then, tighten the bolt to lock it in place. This will loosen the timing belt, allowing you to remove it.