How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
The mechanic told me that the timing belt broke on my 1999 Honda Accord (although it was changed 50K ago). How does he know it is broken (with the concomitant likely engine damage) as opposed to slipping badly (big oil leak under timing cover which is supposedly what led to the timing belt breaking)? Car briefly hesitated twice on interstate and I got off the road onto the shoulder and stopped I mmediately; car would not restart; towed to shop that replaced the timing belt 50K ago. Water pump and balance shaft belt etc changed then too – but they did not change the cam and crank seals etc. at
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. I would need to know the specific engine to be sure, but since Honda does use interference type engines, it may be possible that damage has occurred if the timing belt has broken. Interference type engines use very tight valve to piston clearances. This yields increased engine performance, however, leaves the engine susceptible to contact and damage if the timing belt breaks. Checking to see if the belt is broken should be a simple matter of removing the timing covers to check the condition of the belt. While not common, it is still possible that the belt broke, even if it did not yet reach the recommended mileage. I would check the the belt to see if it has broken and go from there. If you need help with a timing belt repair, a certified professional from YourMechanic can go to your home or office to perform this service.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Sometimes, a timing belt breaks without any warning. However, there are sometimes signs of damage that can save you a huge amount of time and money if you catch them soon enough. If you notice any of these signs, you`ll need a mechanic to check the condition of your timing belt and other engine components.
First symptom of a broken timing belt: the engine ticking.
If you hear a strange ticking sound coming from inside the engine, then stop the car immediately. After stopping, open the bonnet safely and, paying attention to the hot parts of the engine, visually check the condition of the belt.
It can be difficult to tell if your timing belt is worn out. Your car`s timing belt is sealed in its own housing, which makes it extremely difficult to check on your own. Timing belts should be left to expert mechanics who have experience dealing with them.
Every manufacturer is different, but typically, it needs to be replaced every 60,000–100,000 miles. The recommended interval for your specific vehicle can be found in your car`s owner`s manual. Because the timing belt is made of rubber, it will wear down over time and eventually break.
When the belt breaks, the valve springs will slam all the valves closed. From sheer inertia – no matter how fast you were going or even idling – the crankshaft will continue to move the pistons up and down for a short time and will hit the valves.
It is safer to replace the timing belt even earlier than the manufacturer recommends. In general, however, timing belts needs to be replaced from 60,000 miles up to 150,000 miles.
Signs Your Ignition Timing Is Off
Some things to look out for: Engine knocking: Engine knocking occurs when the air-fuel mixture is ignited too soon in the cylinder. The mixture then pushes against pistons that are still trying to compress the mixture. This causes loud pinging sounds to come from the engine.
Usually, when a timing belt fails, it happens very suddenly. Once a failure occurs the engine will immediately stop or lose significant power. If your vehicle has a chain instead, though, it may make a lot of noise if it is loose. If this chain breaks, you will often hear the crack.
Time is perhaps more important than miles. Seven years is the maximum life of the timing belt recommended by most manufacturers. For example, the belt should be replaced even if the engine has only 30,000 miles but is seven years of age. More timing belts break due to age than mileage.
When your car`s timing belt is broken or irreplaceable, your engine will not be able to ignite or turn over properly. This means when you turn the key, you may hear the starter motor engage, but since the timing belt is responsible for operating the crank and shaft, it will not fully ignite.
In your application, which is referred to as an “interference engine”, once it known that the timing belt is defective in any respect, it is recommended that you do not operate the engine at all until the belt is replaced.
Timing Belt Inspection: Our mechanics will run the engine, listen for any abnormal noises, and inspect under the vehicle for any leaks. They will then remove the top timing belt cover to inspect the belt and any other components, which the mechanics will then quote on replacement, if required.
Timing belts are a serviceable item and should be changed as per the manufacturers` service schedule, this is usually between 60,000 and 100,000 miles or 5 – 7 years.
Avoiding timing belt replacement can be a huge mistake, however, as failure has the potential to cause serious damage to your vehicle`s engine. A broken timing belt can render your vehicle inoperable, or even worse, bend your valves and pistons causing major damage to your engine.
In many cases a jumped timing belt will cause some engine damage. A timing belt can also strip teeth off, shred, or break entirely. On an interference engine this will cause engine components such as valves and pistons to collide which is every bit as bad as it sounds.
In a non-interference engine, a timing belt break will simply stop the engine. Because the ballerinas never cross paths, it doesn`t matter that one isn`t dancing to the same tune. The piston won`t contact the valve, and the worst you can expect is to re-time the engine and replace the timing belt.
Will a timing belt last 10 years? Most manufacturers recommend replacing the cambelt every 60,000 to 100,000 miles or every 5-7 years, whichever comes first.
Lack of Oil Changes
Engine oil is responsible for lubricating the moving parts of your engine. That includes the timing chain and the gears/sprockets that it attaches to. If you don`t change your oil on time, this can cause wear and tear and shorten the lifespan of your timing chain.
One of the leading causes of timing chain issues in cars is wear and tear. As the timing chain is made up of metal links, over time, they can stretch or even break. This can cause a loss of tension, leading to improper synchronization between the crankshaft and the camshaft.
It can be difficult to tell if your timing belt is worn out. Your car`s timing belt is sealed in its own housing, which makes it extremely difficult to check on your own. Timing belts should be left to expert mechanics who have experience dealing with them.
Every manufacturer is different, but typically, it needs to be replaced every 60,000–100,000 miles. The recommended interval for your specific vehicle can be found in your car`s owner`s manual. Because the timing belt is made of rubber, it will wear down over time and eventually break.
It can be difficult to tell if your timing belt is worn out. Your car`s timing belt is sealed in its own housing, which makes it extremely difficult to check on your own. Timing belts should be left to expert mechanics who have experience dealing with them.
When the belt breaks, the valve springs will slam all the valves closed. From sheer inertia – no matter how fast you were going or even idling – the crankshaft will continue to move the pistons up and down for a short time and will hit the valves.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
ANSWER : Hello. I would need to know the specific engine to be sure, but since Honda does use interference type engines, it may be possible that damage has occurred if the timing belt has broken. Interference type engines use very tight valve to piston clearances. This yields increased engine performance, however, leaves the engine susceptible to contact and damage if the timing belt breaks. Checking to see if the belt is broken should be a simple matter of removing the timing covers to check the condition of the belt. While not common, it is still possible that the belt broke, even if it did not yet reach the recommended mileage. I would check the the belt to see if it has broken and go from there. If you need help with a timing belt repair, a certified professional from YourMechanic can go to your home or office to perform this service.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
hey i had a belt break while traveling on my 2004 honda pilot. It is the small belt and not the serpentine belt. The mechanic t
ANSWER : Hello. The smaller belt is known as your timing belt, and it works inside the engine to keep mechanical components aligned with each other during the compression cycle. The serpentine belt, which is the big belt, drives the alternator, water pump, AC compressor, and a couple of other components. If the small belt broke it is likely the timing belt. This will cause the car to stall, lights to illuminate, and can even cause serious damage to the engine. Typically replacing a timing belt is a lot more complicated and expensive than replacing a serpentine belt. You may want to receive a second opinion on the car before you go ahead with repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
1992 Acura Legend, when the timing belt goes, is it common for the valves to bend?
ANSWER : If the timing belt break off, the engine’s pistons will hit the valves as the pistons are moving. The engine is an interference engine and can cause damage to the internals of the engine. The last time the belt came off, the engine may have been running at an idle or not under power. It is possible for the valves to be bent. What I recommend doing is performing a leak down test on the engine with a timing belt on the engine and properly timed to determine if the valves were in fact bent. If all of the cylinders have a 80 percent hold and not leaking, then the engine is fine. If there is a mass leak on a cylinder, then the piston did some internal damage. I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you check your engine’s valve train with a leak down tester.
______________________________________________________
Billing and parts question was sent to CS for the cost of parts and labor for valve train and related parts from a broken timing belt for a 1992 Acura Legend with a V6-3.2L engine.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
Timing belt is tight and yet appears to be slipping several teeth when belt is rotated,
ANSWER : This is okay since there are more notches on the belt than the amount on the sprockets. Once you aligned the first time the belt marks will almost never line up perfectly again. The marks are used to put the belt on correctly. They aren’t used as an indicator after the engine is turned again. You should be okay to start the motor as long as timing marks on pulleys line up. If you run into any issues, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, assist you with the replacement of the timing belt.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
hi- i got an estimate to replace my timing belt and water pump for my 2012 pilot. Do these figures seem right? Timing belt (35.00)
ANSWER : Hi there. That is a fairly good and detailed estimate for this type of service. It also falls within the price estimation to have a mechanic shop complete this service. However, you might want to consider a third option, of having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete the timing belt replacement and water pump replacement. Simply click the blue links to receive an estimate for both services.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
Timing Belt Cover replacement and External Belt too.
ANSWER : The parts are touching likely because either the parts were not installed properly or fasteners may be missing or broken. If oil has been leaking, this can cause the seal around the covers to swell as well causing misalignment. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer inspection of the belt drive to see what is causing the misalignment and offer a more personal diagnosis as well as estimate the proper repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
Serpentine belt tearing apart by pebble & pieces of it getting inside timing belt, motor destroyed
ANSWER : Hi there. I agree with you – this doesn’t pass the ’smell test’. The only way for debris to enter the engine is through the throttle body. Since the throttle body inlet is protected and covered by an air intake on your Ford Fiesta, I highly doubt that this is the source of your problems.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
Timing belt replacement: Cam gears are not lining up.
ANSWER : Hi there. You will have to remove the timing belt and turn the camshafts again to line them up to there marks. Now, one camshaft will stay in that position where the other one will be under spring tension. You will need something or a timing lock tool to keep the camshafts from turning before putting on the belt. Then your timing will be set properly. If you need further assistance with your timing belt replacement, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : How does a mechanic know the timing belt is broken
