Can a mechanic tell if a timing belt has been changed?
Can a mechanic tell if a timing belt has been changed?
There really isn’t an indicator for belts, unfortunately. If the boyfriend of the previous owner says the dealer changed it, bring the car to that dealer, if possible, and have them look up a service record. If you’re far away from the dealer, call in and have your VIN handy.
What is a drive belt in CarFax?
Drive belts are external of the engine and drive the various accessories .. Timing belt is internal and cannot been seen without partial engine disassembly. The drive belts and the timing belt are independent of each other.
How often should timing belt be changed?
every 60,000 to 100,000 miles
Since the timing belt has such an important job, it’s crucial to have it replaced regularly. In most cases, there is no indication that a timing belt is becoming worn. Often times, it just breaks. That’s why most manufacturers recommend you have your vehicle’s timing belt replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles.
Can you visually inspect timing belt?
The first thing to do is a visual inspection of the timing belt. Look for any contaminants that could eat away at the belt or cause it to slip. Also, look for cracks in the belt. If the belt has many cracks in it, this can indicate that the belt is old or has dried out.
Is it worth fixing a timing belt?
Although timing belts are critical, there’s no need to replace them regularly –unless explicitly recommended in your owner’s manual. Some automakers recommend changing a timing belt between 60,000 and 100,000, others don’t. Many of today’s timing belts can go 100,000 miles or more without needing to be replaced.
Does CarFax tell you if timing belt has been changed?
It is a selling feature to their customers that if they get their service done there it will be reported and therefore add value at resale time. So just because CarFax has no record of it means nothing other than if it was done it was not done at a shop that reports to CarFax, nothing more.
Why is timing belt so expensive?
The timing belt itself isn’t an expensive part. The time and labor are what make it so expensive. To get to the timing belt, the engine needs to be disassembled. Doing so takes significant time and effort.
How does a timing belt work on a car engine?
Timing belts and timing chains connect the engine’s crankshaft to the camshaft, which opens up the valves of the engine. The camshaft makes one revolution for every two revolutions of the crankshaft, and as it turns, small oval lobes on the shaft, or cams, push against the valves to open them.
How long do timing belts and chains last?
Quieter and less expensive than chains, with some able to last as many as 100,000 miles, timing belts eventually became the go-to choice for automakers right up through the 1990s. The pendulum has swung back around toward timing chains more recently, thanks to their longer lifespan.
What are the signs of a bad timing belt?
Examples include a ticking sound after your turn off a car with a timing belt, or a rattling noise at idle from a vehicle with a timing chain. The former may leak oil as well, while with the latter, metal shavings can show up in the engine oil as a chain begins disintegrating.
What happens if the timing chain breaks on a car?
The timing system ensures the valves are out of the way when the piston comes up. If the belt or chain breaks, the valves don’t move and will be smashed by the piston head. If this happens at high rpm, a valve can snap right off and become a fast-moving projectile that leads to catastrophic engine failure.