What happens when the belt breaks? I heard so many times to change a timing belt on time, but if it actually breaks? Whats the worst it can happen? Is it true it can cost thousands to repair? just wonderingWhy is it important to change the timing belt on time?pistons could hit valves in some /most motors, then its expensiveWhy is it important to change the timing belt on time?breaking is a luck game. if you get lucky all your valves are up and nothing happens.Other than the next few days of your life sucks and your out tow money. If you're not lucky it smashes into them and kills atleast the top end maybe even pistons.
If you have a timing chain it wouldn't matter to much. Doing it might save gas and give more power.
If you have a belt and just coming around to the recommend time doesn't matter much. Do it within the next year when you have time and money.
If you 50k miles over the recommended time does matter if you care about the car do it asap.Why is it important to change the timing belt on time?Depends somewhat on the car but best case scenario is it breaks and leaves you stranded on side of road, couple hundred dollars later and your back on the road.
Worst case scenario is when the engine bends the valves and/or otherwise seriously damages the internal parts of the engine. Now your out $1000's of dollars and without a car for a week or more.Why is it important to change the timing belt on time?On Toyotas when the cam belt breaks the engine stops running and those things you need like power steering and power brakes get very hard. On other cars when the cam belt breaks the engine suffers damaged valves and stops running and you're also left with no power steering or power brakes. Thousands in repair costs are reality in cars with %26quot;interferance engines%26quot; the ones whose valves can be damaged. The non-interferance engines may not be damaged, but you can imagine how unsafe your situation becomes without power. Changing a cam belt can be about a $200 expense- maybe more if you have other preventive repairs done at the same time.
The cam belt moves the cam, which drives the valves. The pistons can keep moving when the valves stop moving and can run into them- bang bang, bang---- then silence. Do not try to start the engine when that happens because you can do more damage.Why is it important to change the timing belt on time?If your positive you don't have an %26quot;interference%26quot; type engine and the engine's free wheeling when the timing belt breaks, then I'd just keep driving it until the belt broke. Check the Gates timing belt reference below to see if you have an interference engine.
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochuWhy is it important to change the timing belt on time?Depending on what type of engine you have if the timing belt breaks the pistons can hit the valves, thus bending the valves and valve guides, cracking the head and even cracking or breaking the pistons and bending the rods, ( depending on how fast your are going ) but since neither you nor I can see into the future and predict when and where that belt will break. It is better to change it when scheduled and not take any chances that could cost a lot of money. But make sure to ask for the old part back and tell them you want the timing belt tentioner replace also. And If your cars water pump is driven by the timing belt get it changed too
Good LuckWhy is it important to change the timing belt on time?The timing belt is what keeps the vales in time with the pistons. Have you ever seen a old clock with a pendulum and it swings back and forth. well this is what keeps everything moving in the correct order. Same as the timing belt, it keeps every thing working as it should. If the pendulum stops, the clock stops. If the belt breaks the engine stops, right there and will not restart, your stuck. You could be a hundred miles from where you want to be so that is what makes it so important. Oh and if your motor is an interference type motor, you will have some bent valves to replace along with that timing belt. This significantly drives up the cost of the repair.Why is it important to change the timing belt on time?It will ruin the engine.
