Signs of a Bad Timing Belt
The timing belt in a car is a very important part of a car running efficiently and quietly. It is usually connected to a few different parts, the engine being the main part, air conditioner, and others may be turned by the belt as well. The mainsourceof knowing whether a timing belt is going bad is by a screeching sound that a car owner begins to hear. The screeching gets louder and louder and the only thing to do is change the belt as soon as a person hears the sound coming from their auto’s hood. The way a timing belt looks can also be a sign of a bad timing belt.
The timing belt is not hard to miss under the hood. It is usually among a few wheels on one side of the engine. It is just ablack beltthat can range anywhere from a quarter inch to about an inch depending on the model of the car. The belt is usually made of black rubber. On one side of the belt it is smooth and has product numbers on it. The other side has rubber teeth with spaces in between. The purpose of the teeth is to set into the metal grooves of the wheel that is connected to the engine or whatever part. The teeth hold the wheel to it and then the wheel turns with joint effort between the wheel and the belt and the power of the engine and all is well. It is a bit like a water mill wheel, but the timing belt and power does what the water does for the wooden wheel.
A car owner can pop their hood and locate the timing belt to the side of the engine. It is best to consult the owner’s manual or the repair guide for the specific vehicle. Upon locating the timing belt the teeth are usually facing away from the viewer because they run on the inside of the belt. So a person inspecting the timing belt will need to have a flashlight, a small mirror on an extension arm helps too from the auto store, although the auto owner really can just take the section of the belt between two fingers and turn it to the side to see the condition of the teeth or some of the belts have lines.
Many things can be wrong with the belt. The belt could be dry. There could be cracks in the rubber. There even could be chunks of the rubber missing. All of these are signs of a bad timing belt, and it would be wise to change the belt when these things are seen. The belts don’t cost that much so if there are any signs of dryness or cracks replace the belt as soon as possible. Make note that the whole timing belt may not be damaged so just because a person looks at one section doesn’t mean the whole thing is good. So make sure a thorough inspection of the belt is done before signing off to say that there is no need for a new timing belt.
Some parts in cars can run a little while when they are a little damaged, but it is not always the wisest way to go, because car parts work together so if one is bad, others can follow if the problem is not corrected. In timing belts the major signs of bad belts are dryness, cracking, chunks out, and the one that most people wait for before changing the belt and that is that high pitched screeching noise. In the event that someone doesn’t change their timing belt, then the engine will be off and one morning the owner will turn their car on and find that it won’t start.
