Aside from maintenance schedules, what warning signs tell you that it's time to replace a timing belt?

Answer 1

Noises inside the timing cover. Or the timing belt is over six years old. Don't take chances engine dammage could result from waiting one day to long! Or if the drive belts need replacing do the timing belt too. And cam seals if there leaking and while your in there in some cars water pump and thermostat too.

Answer 2

you inspect the belt with the engine off.

Look for cracks. tiny cracks in the rubber means the solvents have evaporated entirely from the 'rubber' coating that protects the fiberglass belts inside that provide strength. They are what keeps it all together for 30,000 to 90,000 miles!

No cracks? Not out of the woods yet.

Look at the 'teeth' on the belt. where the belt is thickest as there is a "tooth" there, the rubber might be dark on the smooth side of the belt. where the belt is thin, as no tooth is on the other side, the rubber might be faded to a grey-black.

When you look at the belt, it might appear like tiger strips across it,
and that means the solvents are going, and I assure you that the time is now to fix it!

I always buy the kit with the timing belt, instructions, idler pulley, and a new water pump, if it is a Volvo, Honda, Mitsubishi, or etc,. that has the water pump behind the timing cover.

While in there, I am going to change out all the hoses, belts, also!

The vehicle will be good until the next time a change is due! Other than the small adjustment of the idler pulley, that is! The Idler pulley needs to be adjusted correctly at installation, again about a week later, and then, every 10,000 or whatever interval is in the schedule. The new belts all stretch in the first 200 miles, and then settle down, after the adjustment.

Adjustment a week later will allow for a double check for any loose bolts, leaks.

Answer 3

The problem with replacing timing belts is that hardly anyone ever does it correctly. You have to line up the camshaft and cam timing marks correctly, make sure you are BTDC, set the tensioner correctly, etc, etc. This takes some patience, not to mention you typically have to remove a lot of stuff to get to the belt also, like engine mounts, alternator, other belts, cover assemblies, etc. Commercial mechanics just want to do the least amount of work for the most money. They will not take the time and effort to do your belt correctly. They will on their own car, but not yours.

If you trust someone else to do it, it's a crapshoot for it to be done right - even at a stealership who will charge you the most.
A timing belt done incorrectly will be the beginning of the demise of your car. A factory timing belt can last 150,000 - 200,000 miles. The 60,000 mile rule is BS. I say you are better off just letting the belt break when it does. If you have a non-interference engine, like a Toyota, you'll be ok. At this point, if someone screws up putting the new belt on and creates more problems, you've enjoyed the car 150,000 - 200,000 miles already.

Answer 4

it relatively is already over mileage via 10K miles and is on the 7 3 hundred and sixty 5 days age minimize (being a rubber product age is substantial). it's time to replace the belt. If it fails the engine can't be nicely worth repairing and $4000 for an engine replace is far greater desirable than $4 hundred for the timing belt. some belts can circulate long previous the replace schedule, enormously if the years are low, yet others incredibly make it to the desired replace era. Timing belt overlook is the #a million reason for unexpected engine dying. The V6s until eventually now 1998 weren't interference yet your 2005 Camry has the 1MZ-FE, it incredibly is an interference layout.

Answer 5

In most cases, you will not get a warning. A warn timing belt with either jump cogs or break. On vehicles with an interferance engine when that happens, the engine will get trashed in about 10 seconds. You don't want to wait for a symptom. Depending on your vehicle, I would replace at 75,000 or so. Of course if the rest of the car is junk and it is paid for, you can always drive it until the pistons hit the valves and all hell breaks loose.

Answer 6

Generally, there are none. Your engine dies. Period. Some engines are interference engines meaning valves and cylinders crash into one another when the timing belt breaks. This means you get to pay for an engine rebuild and a tow AND replacing the belt. Do yourself a favor-suck it up and follow the maint schedule. You can cheat it a bit is it really worth it?

Answer 7

If it's the timing belt - you can't see it, it's under a cover at the "front" of the engine. If it's going bad, the car will barely run, if at all. It'll chug and stutter and backfire and sh!t. You must have it fixed IMMEDIATELY or it will physically destroy your engine.

Answer 8

you can remove the cover from it,,and look at it,,and if has cracks in it,its time to replace it,,also look for signs of dry rot on it,,or some coming apart,,on the edge,s of it,,also look for oil on it,,sometimes an oil seal will leak and get it wet with oil,,this will cause it to slip,,or jump timing,,i hope this help,s.

Answer 9

Wear on the belt, if you can even see it. And then when it breaks.

Answer 10

It will have cracks and uneven wear and tear. Some cars squeak really bad as well.