ALT-2 What is a Timing Belt
Timing belts are an essential part of a car. They have a major role to play in the successful running of the engine as well as your vehicle. A timing belt consist of certain threads of rubber that are used to help turn the crankshafts of the car as well as the camshafts. Without a proper working or well maintained timing belt, your car can cause you serious troubles.
In some cars today, these timing belts are becoming more and more important because not only are they responsible for the precise turning of the crankshafts and camshafts, they also play a vital role in water pump functions. The valves and the pistons of the car are also helped functioned by a timing belt. The timing belt helps the pistons and the valves to find the exact time at which they push a downward force upon the camshafts at just the right moment.
If the right moment is not found, it might even result into serious problems linked to the camshafts. In most cars today the timing belts are so important that they are manufactured with great intent and quality. It is estimated that a normal car has a timing belt that is said to last a large amount of miles, somewhere around 60,000 miles. Luxury cars or cars that are a bit more expensive are designed to have timing belts that last just as long as the life of the engine.
The consequences of having issues with the timing belts are disastrous. The worst case scenario for a car having a timing belt breakdown might be something like engine seizure where the engine completely halts. Other problems that are related to a timing belt breaking down are the breaking down of the camshafts which can really cause the car to spend some major time at the garage.
It is very important that car owners understand when it’s time to replace their timing belts. The right replacement of a broken or wore down timing belt can prevent catastrophic like impacts for the car and can save you a lot of time. Usually, in many cars a timing belt is replaced just once mainly because the timing belt is designed to last for so long. It is best to get your timing belt replaced, rather than doing it yourself because the process is quite difficult and any minor blunder can cause you other additional unwanted trouble.
Source:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-timing-belts.htm
