Looking for a timing service expert Homer Glen, IL?
If you are looking for a quality timing belt service in Homer Glen come to KCC Car & Truck Care. Our ASE Certified technicians will ensure your vehicle is running as it should.
Timing is everything. For jokes, music, cooking, dating—even engines! That’s because your engine relies on a timing belt to stay in sync.
The timing belt makes sure everything in the engine is operating smoothly and at the precision, it should, keeping you safe on the road. A stretched, broken, or misaligned timing belt can cause severe engine damage, meaning costly repairs.
Replacing the timing belt is an important maintenance item, so, if you own a car, you should understand how a timing belt works and when to replace it.
Why are timing and drive belts important?
Think of a timing belt like a bike chain for your vehicle—it keeps all the internal moving parts of an engine in sync. Those internal parts have some pretty tight clearances that require extreme precision and correct timing to operate smoothly.
The timing belt sometimes also powers the water pump, oil pump, and injection pump.
The timing belt is a rubber belt with hard teeth that interlock with the cogwheels of the crankshaft and the two camshafts. The timing belt synchronizes the movement of the crankshaft and camshafts to make sure the engine intake and exhaust valves open and close in time with the pistons. If the crankshaft and camshafts are not operating in unison, the vehicle will not run correctly.
Similarly, the drive belt is also a rubber belt, but it handles almost all other systems within the vehicle. That includes the power steering pump, alternator, crankshaft, a/c compressor, and sometimes the water pump.
When should you replace your timing belt?
Timing belt replacement varies by manufacturer, however the general rule of thumb is between 80,000 to 100,000 miles.
It’s important to replace your timing belt at the mileage intervals your vehicle manufacturer recommends. Every manufacturer is different, but typically, the timing belt needs to be replaced every 80,000–100,000 miles. Because the timing belt is made of rubber, it will wear down over time and eventually break. When it breaks, the engine will stop running or the components will be out of sync, damaging the engine.
Serpentine belts should be inspected with each oil change. The general recommendation is drive belt replacement every 60,000 miles.
For serpentine belts, there are usually no replacement recommendations. They may suggest inspecting the belt at every oil change, once a year or every 30,000 to 50,000 miles. The need for belt replacement is usually based on the belt’s condition.
With serpentine belts, wear occurs in the V-grooves on the underside of the belt until the grooves become worn and lose their grip on the matching pulley grooves. Slippage often produces noise but also can cause additional problems such as reduced power steering assist on vehicles with hydraulic power steering, reduced charging system output under load, reduced A/C cooling and/or engine overheating.
Oil or grease contamination also can be grounds for replacing a belt. Lubricants reduce friction and can allow a serpentine belt or V-belt to slip. The chemicals in oil or grease also can damage the rubber or synthetic rubber in the belt, too.
How do I know if my timing belt or drive belt needs replacement?
Often, there aren’t any warning signs before a timing belt breaks. But here are some possible indicators that it might be time to replace your timing belt:
- Decreased engine power
- Loss of power steering
- Dead Battery
- Overheating
- Vibrating or shaking
- Trouble starting the vehicle
- Squealing or rubbing noises from the belts
- Ticking noise coming from engine
- Leaking oil
- Check Engine Light
Timing Belt Repair & Replacement at KCC Care Car in Homer Glen.
Replacing the timing belt is an expensive service. It is an intricate, labor-intensive process that can take 4–8 hours, depending on the vehicle. But replacing it before it breaks will prevent engine damage and save you money in the long run. If you’re unsure about when your timing belt needs to be replaced, stop by KCC Car Care today.