5 Symptoms of a Failed Timing Belt
If you’ve ever bought a used car, you’ve heard of timing belts. However, there are still ways to know when it’s time to replace this important engine belt. This synchronization allows the cylinders to fire at the right time to keep the engine running properly. A broken timing belt often causes severe damage to the engine.
Because the timing belt in your engine is subject to continuous stress and harsh conditions, it is important to follow your vehicle manufacturer’s recommended timing belt replacement intervals. 5 Most Common Symptoms of a Faulty Timing Belt
Below are the 5 most common symptoms of a faulty timing belt to look out for.
If you suspect a faulty timing belt, you should have your car towed to a repair shop immediately to avoid a complete break in the belt (if it hasn’t already come off the pulley).
1) Engine stall
If your timing belt breaks or comes off the pulley, your engine will stall. Without a timing belt, the valves won’t open and close at the right time (if they even move at all). The engine may be able to fire the injectors and spark plugs, but it has no way of drawing in or expelling air exactly when it needs to.
2) Rough Idling
Is your engine idling rough? If so, you may experience a lot of twitching or shuddering while driving. This is one of the main symptoms of a bad timing belt. This can cause the engine timing to be inaccurate, resulting in a very rough idle or even stalling.
3) Defective Valves or Pistons
If the rotating crankshaft and camshafts are not in sync, pistons can be damaged and valves can be bent when they come into contact. The most common cause is a completely snapped timing belt.
The only thing you can do at this point is to install a new timing belt (if it isn’t already installed) before the engine is seriously damaged.
4) Low Oil Pressure
When a timing belt wears excessively, some of its teeth can come loose and find their way into the vehicle’s oil pan. This causes a significant drop in oil pressure in the engine.
If the internal engine parts do not receive sufficient lubrication, the engine may fail completely. At this point, the only solution is to rebuild or replace the engine.
5) Ticking noise
The timing belt is connected to many pulleys and is surrounded by many other parts. As the timing belt wears, it becomes loose, and if it continues to wear, a ticking noise can occur. The noise will continue until the timing belt is replaced or wears out.
How long does a timing belt last? A timing belt typically lasts between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on the vehicle and driving style.
Causes of Timing Belt Failure
1) Age
The most common cause of timing belt failure is aging. Waiting too long between timing belt replacements to extend its useful life can result in a higher repair cost than if you replaced the timing belt immediately.
2) Poor Timing Belt Quality
There are many reputable brands of timing belts that are suitable for specific vehicles. A lower quality belt may have a shorter lifespan than OEM specifications. Poor quality control may also be a contributing factor.
When purchasing a replacement timing belt, be sure to purchase the correct belt for your vehicle.
3) Faulty Tensioner
If the belt is too tight, it can cause premature wear on the idler pulley and water pump. If the water pump fails, it can cause overheating problems in addition to engine control problems.
What happens if the timing belt breaks?
A trouble-free engine means that the valves and pistons do not touch, regardless of the position of the crankshaft and camshafts. This is true whether the engine has a timing belt or not. If a timing belt breaks or slips on a trouble-free engine, the worst thing that can happen is that the engine will stall.
It’s never a good idea to have one break down, but fortunately, a broken timing belt won’t cause any major damage to your engine. The worst thing you might notice is a slight rub on the inside of the timing cover as the belt spins freely. If you replace the timing belt, it won’t affect the performance of your engine.
With an interference motor
In an interference engine, there are engine positions that can cause a valve to come into contact with another valve or a piston to come into contact with another piston.
You may be able to see the damage by inserting an endoscope into the spark plug holes.
If the engine stalls in the right place, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get away with it without any damage. It’s certainly a gamble, and one you shouldn’t risk. Repairing damage inside the engine could easily cost thousands of dollars.