What makes a timing belt break

Consequently, providing the exact position of the pistons, as they come up or go down in the […]. Engine bearing replacement is not as hard as it sounds. So, if you have a bearing failure, learning how to replace engine bearings, can save you a ton of money. Consequently, doing your own engine […]. So, the advantage of variable valve timing VVT , is that all the factors traditionally associated; with a given camshaft grind; are no longer fixed.

As a result, making it possible to change valve timing in […]. Most of the images displayed are of unknown origin. We do not intend to infringe any legitimate intellectual right, artistic rights or copyright. But, timing belt failure, can be avoided, by keeping the timing belt, in good operating condition. So, timing belt failure, has always been a topic, no one wants to talk about.

You just pop a new belt on, and the engine should theoretically drive normally. 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. Excessive or uneven tooth wear, belt tracking and tensile failure can all be attributed to misalignment. By checking and aligning your shafts and timing pulleys you can increase the life of your timing belts and save yourself lots of downtime.

Excessive load If the timing belt teeth are shearing, excessive load is more than likely the cause. Tensile failure and even excessive tooth wear can also be caused by excessive load or shock loads, although the latter is less likely.

Under-tensioning can also cause excessive or uneven tooth wear and excessive drive noise so use a tension gauge to set the correct tension on those timing belts! We are open and clean! We want to communicate the precautions we are taking to protect our valuable clients and our staff, including sanitizing our waiting areas, restrooms, counters, keys, and vehicles as our technicians exit them.

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