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Do I Need Breakdown Cover? The expected lifespan of your timing belt is specific to your car and engine configuration, usually between 60, and , miles. You can check your owner's manual or look online for your car's service schedule. The manufacturer's recommended intervals are a safe guideline; you probably won't need to replace your belt any earlier [source: Allen ]. However, if you're approaching your service interval and have doubts about the belt's condition, you might as well get it replaced a little early.
It'll be less expensive than waiting until after the belt breaks. Why is it important to replace the timing belt on such a strict schedule? The belt is a synthetic rubber strap that contains fiber strands for strength. It has teeth to prevent slipping, which fit into the grooves on the end of the camshaft and crankshaft. It's a simple part for such an important function, and when it snaps, things get a lot more complicated.
Unlike many car parts that gradually lose function as they wear out, a timing belt simply fails. Whether the belt breaks or a couple of teeth strip, the end result is the same. One minute, your car will be running perfectly; the next minute, it won't.
You're in trouble if your car has an "interference engine," in which the valves are in the path of the pistons. The fragile valves will bend, and you'll be faced with a costly repair. It's easy to check the belt for signs of premature wear -- just locate it in the engine bay usually under a plastic or metal shield that should be easy to remove and check it for drying, fraying and discoloration.
Your mechanic will probably charge several hundred dollars or more for a belt replacement service, though. Those hours spent dismantling and reassembling the engine bay add up quickly. You can replace the timing belt yourself if you have access to the necessary equipment. When the auto manufacturer recommends routine maintenance at a specific time or mileage, it's always good to pay attention to that.
They stress test the parts in your vehicle to know how long they're going to remain at their optimal performance levels.
So, if Ford or Chevy says that their timing belt is only going to last you for 80, miles, you should really consider replacing it around 80, miles. It can prevent a lot of damage further down the road if you get it done when you're supposed to. That said, if the belt still seems to be in good working order once it hits the limit of use, can it keep going? A quick search of the internet will show you that there are a number of drivers who have experienced timing belts that have lasted for an extended period of time well beyond when it was recommended, they be changed.
Volkswagen , as we said, has some of the longest life spans for their timing belts based on their own recommendations. There are reports from mechanics and on mechanic websites that suggest some drivers have managed to keep their VW Golf's going for , miles on the same timing belt. Other vehicles that have had long live timing belts include things like a Plymouth Voyager that topped , miles and a Chrysler LeBaron that got to , miles on the original timing belt.
Hondas have been known to last for a while with timing belts up to , miles. Honda typically recommends you change your belt closer to 60, miles, so this would definitely be an anomaly. At least one driver on CarTalk mentioned that they had a Honda Prelude that got to about , miles on the original timing belt. Another stated they had a Honda Accord that got up to , miles. So, is it possible that you can get , miles out of your timing belt? There are a number of drivers of a variety of different vehicles that have experienced timing belts that have lasted , miles and there are even rumours of truly astounding feats like timing belts that managed to get to , miles.
The thing you need to remember about this though is that these are remarkable anomalies. This is not the normal way a car works, and the odds on your timing belt lasting that long are fairly slim. If you push your timing belts to the limit and beyond, then of course there's a good chance it's going to break.
When that happens, you can experience some serious damage with your engine. If you run what is known as an interference engine, when your timing belt breaks the crankshaft will continue to move even though the camshaft has stopped. The result of that is the valves and cylinders will not be opening even though the pistons will still be moving up and down.
When the piston collides with a closed valve then you can end up causing serious damage to your engine, which includes warped pistons and valves, damage to the cam heads and more. Because of the damage that you can sustain by not replacing a timing belt when it needs to be replaced, it's really not worth it to see just how long this part can go beyond its recommended lifespan.
Does that mean you need to replace your timing belt at 60, miles exactly? Of course not. But, when you realize you are around the recommended time for your belt to be changed, it never hurts to take it into a mechanic, especially if you're experiencing any issues related to timing belt problems like misfires or unexpected drops in performance or gas mileage. A mechanic should be able to take a look at your belts and tell if it's worn down too much it requires a change, or if it's still pretty much as good as new and able to keep going for you.
Just remember, your manufacturer has made the recommendations they have not just as a way to make money by making you buy more parts, but as a way to ensure that the investment you made in your vehicle is a sound one and it's going to perform as well as it can for as long as it can.
Don't let routine maintenance go for too long otherwise you may end up paying quite a bit more in the long run.
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