What happens if your cambelt goes

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It only takes a few seconds. You must be logged in to perform that action. You can find out if your engine is a non-interference or interference by r eferring to this list. If your engine isn't listed, Google it, as these lists aren't exhaustive.

Timing belt services can be costly on some cars, ranging into the thousands of dollars. Note : The procedure listed here was performed on a Lexus ES V6, which is a non-interference engine. The engine is arranged in a front wheel drive, transverse configuration, which is typical for many types of cars with timing belts of the era. The instructions will be similar on nearly any front wheel drive car with a timing belt.

As always, exercise extreme caution when working on a car. If you're not confident in your mechanical abilities, consult a professional. As a timing belt is such an integral part, and the maintenance interval is once every half decade, it makes sense not to cheap out on quality. I recommend Gates belts , as they exceed OEM quality and are reasonably priced.

Along with the belt, you'll need the timing belt tensioner, pulleys, and water pump. Go with Koyo if you can for the pulleys , and Aisin makes great water pumps if you can find them for your model. As a general rule, you get what you pay for.

The reason to replace everything else is because since you'll have everything exposed, it's much easier to replace worn components on their way out to avoid problems in the future. Remember, you're loosening, NOT removing. Get the lugs loose enough that you'll be able to take them off with a regular ratchet.

Put the hydraulic jack underneath either the car's frame rail or factory jacking points on the side of the car. These can usually be seen as the dimpled pieces of protruding metal on the bottom of the car.

Some German cars have black rubber pads that serve as the jacking points. Place jack stands underneath the car, rest car on jack stands, making sure that its weight cannot shift. You can now remove the front wheels. The crank pulley is the main pulley at the bottom of the engine. It needs to be removed in order to change the timing belt. However, it's not easy if you only have hand tools, since the torque on this bolt is often pretty extreme. If you have an air-powered impact gun, you can make short work of this, but most people don't have access to an air compressor, so here's a little tip on how to remove that pesky crank bolt:.

Knowing these warning signs can save you costly repairs, and a ruined engine. A bad timing belt is just one of the many reasons your engine might not start. However, if the timing belt breaks while you are driving you will definitely notice and there will almost certainly be additional damage to your engine.

Whenever any sort of squealing occurs you should have it checked out by a mechanic. However squealing that indicates an issue with your timing belt may happen at all different times such as when you are accelerating, braking, idling — or all of the above. When your timing belt has worn down it will begin to affect your engines timing, causing misfires.

Since the timing belt controls the action of the pistons within the engine if the belt is worn or lose they will move erratically if they move at all. Engine misfiring is a sign of trouble that should be checked as soon as possible, otherwise you are risking serious engine damage. This sound can also indicate low oil pressure, which in turn can affect the timing belt. There is a tensioner that keeps the belt taut, and that tensioner is pressurized by the engine oil.

Or in some cases, a chain. But as chains seldom break, they have no place here. What happens when a timing belt fails? Is that the end of the car then? Can a timing belt be fixed? How do I stop it happening? On an older car a snapped belt is a write off.

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