When it comes to your car’s engine, it’s all about the timing. Without a timing belt, your car’s valves, pistons, camshafts, and crankshaft would have no idea when to move. Worse yet, they’d all be moving at the wrong time and collide, causing costly internal engine damage. The timing belt coordinates and synchronizes the movement of all these components, and without it, your car would be at a complete standstill.
Timing belts become worn over time, cracking and breaking if neglected for too long. Miles driven, contaminated oil, and the tension in your belts all contribute to timing belt breakdown. In most cars, the timing belt cannot be visually inspected for wear because it’s buried beneath a number of plastic shields. Your best bet is to replace the timing belt according to your car’s factory-recommended maintenance schedule.
Don’t risk a roadside breakdown. There are few, if any, warning signs before a timing belt fails, and when it does, your car will stall immediately and come to a stop wherever you happen to be. This means a call to a tow truck and an unexpected repair bill, and this is the best-case scenario.
Worst case: Your engine pistons and valves collide, leaving you with internal engine damage. In some cases, the valves can snap and damage the cylinder head as well. Often, the extent of this damage is unknown until you disassemble part of the engine. This spells a repair that can easily hit the $2,000 and up range.
Do yourself and your budget a favor, and let our technicians tame your timing belt. We’ll confirm the recommended replacement interval, carefully install a new timing belt, and ensure your car continues to run like clockwork.