Thursday, July 8, 2010

It is essential to replace your timing belt

A significant element of the “brain” of a car engine, the timing belt, controls your vehicle’s valve timing. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshaft, which controls the opening and closing of valves necessary during the internal combustion process. It actually turns the water pump in many of the engines. Wikipedia says the first car to use a timing belt was in 1945, and also the timing belt first went into mass production in 1962 with the German Glas 1004 car. It hit The United States with the 1966 Pontiac Tempest, and also the 1966 Vauxhall introduced the modern-day use of the timing belt with the four-cylinder overhead cam design that is common to most cars today. Auto manufacturers suggest the timing belt be changed at regular intervals, so it is wise to consult your owner’s manual and keep accurate records.

Article resource: Replacing your timing belt regularly is essential by Car Deal Expert

Changing the timing belt regularly

All automotive belts are important to an engine’s proper function, and also the timing belt is not any kind of exception. It’s made of rubber, so it’s relatively inexpensive. However, it can also snap without warning. Depending upon whether you’ve the “free-wheeling” type of engine (as AutoMedia.com puts it), a snapped timing belt can cause the engine pistons to bend the valves, which requires the head to be removed. That’s an costly repair procedure, so have your timing belt swapped out regularly. As the timing belt is typically covered up and not effortlessly visible, it is typically a good idea to have a trained professional perform the inspection and replacement. Some people will be able to replace it at home. See About.com’s detailed instructions for more info on the procedure, and be careful not to over-tighten.

How long is my timing belt going to last?

It will all depend on the manufacturer. It could be about 10,000 miles for a belt tension check, or as many as 100,000 miles before total replacement. If there’s any doubt, preventative maintenance is better than trying to wait until it snaps and also the valves warp. If you drive hard and live in a warm climate, you will probably have to change the timing belt more often, as excessive heat causes rubber to crack over time. Exposure to oil or antifreeze can might wear down the rubber, so if you have a leak, you’ll want to inspect the belt. Since the cost of a new water pump is relatively low in contrast to the cost of having a mechanic go in and check the timing belt, numerous experts suggest just replacing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt.

New timing belts in new cars bought with auto car loans

Discover more about this topic here:

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timing_belt

About.com

autorepair.about.com/cs/doityourself/a/aa051102a.htm

AutoMedia.com

automedia.com/Behold_Your_Timing_Belt/ccr20020301tb/1

Changing a timing belt on a Vtec Honda Accord:

youtube.com/watch?v=EmasxgJdXJ8



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