• Gates Timing Belt Installation Guide
• Dodge Timing Belt Replacement Guide
• Timing Belt Replacement Guide

Timing belt Many modern production automobile engines use a timing belt to synchronize crankshaft and camshaft rotation; some engines, particularly designs, used to drive the camshaft, but this was rare for designs. The use of a timing belt or chain instead of gear drive enables engine designers to place the camshaft(s) further from the crankshaft, and in engines with multiple camshafts a timing belt or chain also enables the camshafts to be placed further from each other. Timing chains were common on production automobiles through the 1970s and 1980s, when timing belts became the norm, but timing chains have seen a resurgence in recent years. Timing chains are generally more durable than timing belts – though neither is as durable as – however, timing belts are lighter, less expensive, and operate more quietly. Replacing a timing belt on a car In the internal combustion engine application the timing belt or chain connects the to the (s), which in turn control the opening and closing of the engine's valves.

Gates Timing Belt Installation Guide

A requires that the valves open and close once every other revolution of the crankshaft. The timing belt does this. It has teeth to turn the camshaft(s) synchronised with the crankshaft, and is specifically designed for a particular engine. In some engine designs the timing belt may also be used to drive other engine components such as the water pump and. Types or systems are also used to connect the to the at the correct timing.

However, gears and shafts constrain the relative location of the crankshaft and camshafts. Even where the crankshaft and camshaft(s) are very close together, as in pushrod engines, most engine designers use a short chain drive rather than a direct gear drive. This is because gear drives suffer from frequent torque reversal as the cam profiles 'kick back' against the drive from the crank, leading to excessive noise and wear.

Fibre or nylon covered gears, with more resilience, are often used instead of steel gears where direct drive is used. Commercial engines and aircraft engines use steel gears only, as a fibre or nylon coated gear can fail suddenly and without warning. A belt or allows much more flexibility in the relative locations of the crankshaft and camshafts. While chains and gears may be more durable, rubber belts are quieter in their operation (in most modern engines the noise difference is negligible), are less expensive and more efficient, by dint of being lighter, when compared with a gear or chain system. Also, timing belts do not require lubrication, which is essential with a timing chain or gears. A timing belt is a specific application of a used to transmit rotational power synchronously.

Gates suggests changing the timing belt at 60,000 miles. Belts may fail sooner, or last longer, depending on a variety of factors including driving and temperature conditions. Index by Manufacturer. Gates PowerGrip Timing Belt Replacement Recommendations. Materials or workmanship, however, Gates will replace timing belts that are proven to be defective if failure occurred within the timing belt replacement interval recommendation specified by Gates or the original equipment vehicle.

Timing belts are typically covered by metal or polymer timing belt covers which require removal for inspection or replacement. Engine manufacturers recommend replacement at specific intervals. The manufacturer may also recommend the replacement of other parts, such as the water pump, when the timing belt is replaced because the additional cost to replace the water pump is negligible compared to the cost of accessing the timing belt. In an interference engine, or one whose valves extend into the path of the piston, failure of the timing belt (or timing chain) invariably results in costly and, in some cases, irreparable engine damage, as some valves will be held open when they should not be and thus will be struck by the pistons.

Indicators that the timing chain may need to be replaced include a rattling noise from the front of the engine. Timing When an automotive timing belt is replaced, care must be taken to ensure that the valve and piston movements are correctly synchronized. Failure to synchronize correctly can lead to problems with valve timing, and this in turn, in extremes, can cause collision between valves and pistons in. This is not a problem unique to timing belts since the same issue exists with all other cam/crank timing methods such as gears or chains. A pair of valves bent by collision with a piston after timing belt breakage. The engine was running at 4500 RPM. Timing belts must be replaced at the manufacturer's recommended distance and/or time periods.

Failure to replace the belt can result in complete breakdown or catastrophic engine failure, especially in. The owner's manual maintenance schedule is the source of timing belt replacement intervals, typically every 30,000 to 50,000 miles (50,000 to 80,000 km). It is common to replace the at the same time as the belt is replaced. The usual failure modes of timing belts are either stripped teeth (which leaves a smooth section of belt where the drive cog will slip) or delamination and unraveling of the fiber cores. Breakage of the belt, because of the nature of the high tensile fibers, is uncommon. Often overlooked, debris and dirt that mix with oil and grease can slowly wear at the belt and materials advancing the wear process, causing premature belt failure.

Correct is critical - too loose and the belt will whip, too tight and it will whine and put excess strain on the bearings of the cogs. In either case belt life will be drastically shortened. Aside from the belt itself, also common is a failure of the tensioner, and/or the various gear and idler bearings, causing the belt to derail. Construction and design A timing belt is typically rubber with high- fibres (e.g. Or /) running the length of the belt as. The belt itself is constructed in sturdy materials such as molded polyurethane, neoprene or welded urethane with various standard, non-standard or metric pitches.

The distance between the centers of two adjacent teeth on the timing belt is referred to as the pitch. Rubber degrades with higher temperatures, and with contact with. Thus the life expectancy of a timing belt is lowered in hot or leaky engines. Newer or more expensive belts are made of temperature resistant materials such as 'highly saturated ' (HSN).

The life of the reinforcing cords is also greatly affected by water and antifreeze. This means that special precautions must be taken for off road applications to allow water to drain away or be sealed from contact with the belt. Older belts have shaped teeth leading to high rates of tooth wear. Newer manufacturing techniques allow for curved teeth that are quieter and last longer. Timing belts may be used to. OEM timing belts may stretch at high rpm, retarding the cam and therefore the ignition. Stronger, aftermarket belts, will not stretch and the timing is preserved.

In terms of engine design, 'shortening the width of the timing belt reduces weight and friction'. Usage history The first known timing belt was used in 1945. In the 1950s, built a racing special with a highly modified engine using cylinders and heads and a toothed rubber belt driving the overhead camshaft on each Norton cylinder head. Devin's Panhard special won the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Championship in 1956. The 1962 was the first mass-produced vehicle to use an overhead camshaft engine with a timing belt. Developed in the early 1960s was the first mass production engine to have belt-driven twin camshafts.

In 1966, started production of the four-cylinder design which used a timing belt, a configuration which became one of the most common. Bicycle usage A timing chain, also called a sync chain, is used on, to synchronize movement between the captain (front rider) and stoker (rear rider). As with auto engines, proper tension of the timing chain is necessary to prevent premature wear of the components. Tension is adjusted by means of an.

See also. References. Scott, George. George Scott.

Retrieved 8 May 2012. Gates Corporation. Archived from on 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2010-10-23.

Siegel, Ira (2007-04-05). Chicago Sun Times. Archived from on 1 October 2011.

Retrieved 2010-10-23. Bennekom, Fred Van (2005).

Archived from on 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2010-10-23. Example of an Audi belt that broke before the recommended replacement interval. Car Care Council. Archived from on 2010-10-30. Retrieved 2010-10-23.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2017-04-20.

Retrieved 2017-04-20. Carley, Larry (2005).

Carley's Online Library of Automotive Technical Articles. AA1Car Automotive Diagnostic Repair Help.

Retrieved 2006-06-09. 'Contrary to what you might think, rubber timing belts do not stretch with accumulated mileage and wear. They are reinforced with strands of fiberglass which makes them virtually unstretchable. After making the crankshaft to cam drive circuit millions of times, the strands can become brittle and may begin to break. Eventually the reinforcing cords give way, the belt snaps and the engine quits.' Belt Corporation of America.

Archived from on 2016-08-19. Retrieved 2017-04-20. Stock Drive Products / Sterling Instrument. Retrieved 2017-04-20. Simmons, Keith (February 2009).

Circle Track Magazine. Retrieved 2010-10-23. PR Newswire Association.

Dodge Timing Belt Replacement Guide

Retrieved 2010-10-23. The Auto Channel.

Retrieved 2010-10-23. Temple, Steve (2004). Advance Auto Parts. Archived from on 2006-04-13. Retrieved 2006-06-09. In earlier engines, camshafts were often gear-driven off the crankshaft.

Later, powerplant designers developed chain drives in OHV (overhead valve) configurations that allowed some flexibility in the placement of the camshaft so that shorter pushrods could be used, for more performance and efficiency. Those engines with long chains sometimes tended to whip about and cause problems. The only alternative was a noisy and complicated multi-gear train until the cogged rubber synchronous timing belt was invented in 1945. Though it was once considered the hallmark of a cheap engine, now it is used in distinguished automobiles such as Acuras, Volvos and Porsches. Ritch, Ocee (May 1957). Sports Cars Illustrated.

Archived from on April 8, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2008.

Norbye, Jan P. 'Expanding on Excellence: The 5-Series and 3-Series'. BMW - Bavaria's Driving Machines.

Skokie, IL: Publications International. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to.

Charles Ofria (1996). The Family Car web magazine. SmartTrac Computer Systems, Inc. Retrieved 2006-06-09.

When does the timing belt need to be replaced When does the timing belt need to be replaced A timing belt runs the engine camshaft (or camshafts in a dual-cam engine). It's called timing belt because its main job is to precisely time valve opening and closing with up-and-down movement of the pistons. Timing belt replacement is one of the high-price maintenance items that many motorists have to deal with. How often does the timing belt need to be replaced? Timing belt recommended replacement intervals vary from 60,000 to 106,000 miles. You can find the recommended interval in your car's maintenance schedule.

We posted several links where you can check the maintenance schedule online at the bottom of this. Can a timing belt last past the recommended interval? Yes, in some cases. We came across a number of high-mileage cars with a timing belt that has never been changed.

In fact, as we worked on this article, we discussed the Toyota Highlander belonging to one of our colleagues. It had almost 200K miles and the timing belt has never been changed.

Timing Belt Replacement Guide

'I'll just keep checking the belt condition, it still looks OK' – was the owner's response. On the other hand, there are many cases when a timing belt breaks at a lower mileage than the recommended interval.

Usually, premature timing belt failure is caused by faulty belt hardware (tensioner and idlers), leaking water pumps, improper tension and when a timing belt is soaked in engine oil. How can you tell if the belt is in good shape or needs to be replaced as soon as possible?

Can a timing belt condition be inspected? The answer is yes.

Can you see the timing belt under the hood? No, a timing belt is usually covered by plastic or metal covers. Your mechanic can remove one of the covers and visually assess the condition of the timing belt. For example, this timing belt in the next photo belongs to the Acura TL with 52,000 miles.

The owner wanted to check the timing belt condition before going on a long road trip. According to the mechanic, this belt is in a good shape and can last for a while longer. The timing belt in the photo below belongs to a Toyota Celica with 150,000 miles. The engine was still running fine, but upon the inspection, the mechanic found that the timing belt is in poor shape (you can see many cracks). The owner rightfully decided to have it replaced. What happens if a timing belt breaks?

There are two types of engines: an interference and non-interference. In an interference engine, if a timing belt breaks while driving, there is a good chance that the engine might be severely damaged. A non-interference engine will stall if a timing belt breaks, but further damage might be limited. The difference is that in an interference engine, valves that are fully open will be hit by the piston as it travels to its top position. In a non-interference engine, there is still some clearance between fully open valves and a piston in the top position. How to know if your engine is an interference engine?

Here is the link to, courtesy of Gates corporation. In this guide, the interference engines are marked with the star sign.

Another reason to replace the old timing belt is that over time it stretches. As a result, the engine timing might become too retarded (delayed). Symptoms of a retarded engine timing include lack of power and slow pick-up. In some cars, a stretched timing belt can also produce a dull rattling noise coming from the timing belt area. Usually the noise is noticeable at idle, but disappears when the engine is revved.

How much does the timing belt replacement cost? It depends on the engine. Timing belt replacement in a 4-cylinder engine may cost from $250 to $600, plus a little extra if you want to replace the water pump and other hardware. In a V6 or V8 engine, the timing belt replacement cost can run from $380 to $780. Is it necessary to replace a water pump, as well as timing belt tensioner and other hardware along with the belt?

It's not necessary, however, it's usually recommended, because very little extra labor is involved in replacement of additional parts. Water pumps do wear over time, so it might make sense to replace the water pump along with the belt. Do all cars have a timing belt? The answer is no, many modern cars have a timing chain instead. A timing chain is a maintenance-free unit and rarely need replacement.

Read more: How to know if a car has a timing chain or belt? First, you can check your maintenance schedule or call your dealer. Another option is to ask your mechanic during your next oil change. Some car manufacturers publish the list of models that have a timing belt online; for example, here is the Toyota list: The Gates Timing Belt Replacement Interval Guide we mentioned before has a list of cars that have a timing belt. Of course, you can always google: '2007 Honda Accord V6 timing belt or chain?' Is it difficult to replace a timing belt as a DIY project? If you have the tools and the skills, it's not that difficult.

In a small 4-cylinder engine, for example, in Toyota Tercel, it can be done within two hours. The hard part is usually the removal of the harmonic balancer (main engine pulley) as the bolt holding it is very tight and sometimes you might need a special puller to take the pulley out. Another difficult task is to set the timing properly and adjust the belt tension when the new belt is installed.

For this you might need the factory service manual.