TIMING BELT / CAMBELT AND TIMING CHAINS
Timing Belt / Cambelt
The Timing belt also known as the cambelt. This rubber belt like any part wears down over time, when to change it is dependant on the make, age and mileage of your vehicle, we can quickly assess whether you need a replacement.
Some signs of needing a replacement are:
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Noise
Sometimes, a cambelt will produce a loud noise when the car is running, this happens most often when the vehicle is first started and the engine is cold. The noise could be a squealing, hissing, grinding, rattling, chirping or rumbling kind of sound. Squealing is common for a loose belt, which can indicate wear and the need for replacement. If the belt is fairly new, yet is still making a noise, the driver should have the tension adjusted, but still have the belt visually checked for unusual wear.
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Starting Issues
If there is an issue with the cambelt, your vehicle may not start at all. This is because without the belt, the camshaft will not rotate when the crankshaft turns.
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Visual Check
Another way to check whether your cambelt needs replacing, is to take a look at the belt itself. If it is becoming worn, the belt will appear to look glazed or glossy on the underside. Cracking or fraying belts with this kind of damage should be replaced immediately.
Timing Chain
The Timing chain does the same job as the timing belt but instead of being a rubber belt it is a chain made of lots of interlocked links. The timing chain will break down over time and become loose or even snap if not addressed.
Some signs of a issue with the timing chain are:
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Engine misfiring
Over a period of time the timing chain can stretch, which can cause the chain to skip a gear. This results in the engine’s timing to fall out of calibration and often results in a misfire.
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Metal shavings in the oil
During an oil change it may be noticed that there are metal shavings in the oil. this may be caused by the chain beginning to break down. (there are also many other reasons for metal shavings in the oil) so always worth getting it checked.
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Engine rattling while in idle
After time the timing chain beginning to get stretched and loose, the chain begins to vibrate inside the motor causing a rattling sound.