Timing Belt Replacements & Servicing

The timing belt – also referred to as the cam belt – isn’t the most talked-about part of a car, but it might well be the most important component of your vehicle’s engine. 

As the term suggests, the timing belt of a car controls the timing of the crankshaft and camshaft. Made from extremely tough reinforced rubber, cam belts ensure that all the engine’s piston and valve movements occur at exactly the right times. In the absence of the timing belt to keep everything moving and synchronised, the car simply won’t start. 

So, you can probably now appreciate that keeping your timing belt in great shape – and replacing it in timely fashion if it isn’t – is of critical importance. And here at Advanced Service Centre, our car servicing and repair professionals in Laindon can help make sure this is the case for you.

How Will You Know Your Car Has a Timing Belt Issue?

This brings us onto one of the big issues that a lot of motorists can have with timing belts – they might very easily not know there is a problem, until the worst happens. 

Although a cam belt isn’t a hugely expensive car part to replace compared to the entire engine, there is always the risk that a timing belt at the end of its lifespan, subject to heavy strain under certain engine loads, could suddenly break. 

A snapped or stripped timing belt at high speed – which is when it often occurs – can cause valves and pistons to clash, which then causes engine damage. 

If this happens to you, the damage to your engine could be catastrophic. This could land you with a much heavier repair bill than if you had simply had this part of the car regularly serviced and looked at, and had the timing belt replaced before it had a chance to fail. 

The Classic Signs of
Potential Cam Belt Issues with Your Car 

Although – as we said above – a timing belt breakage can happen with little or no warning other than the part having reached the end of its expected lifespan, there are still some potential symptoms of cam belt problems that you might want to look out for. 

These include:

• The engine failing to start
• Falling oil pressure
• The engine or exhaust producing smoke
• The engine misfiring
• The driving experience feeling rough and bouncy

Your car’s manual may provide a recommendation on when the timing belt should be replaced. A typical interval is about every five years, or every 60,000 miles; however, the optimal timing of a replacement will depend on your car’s history and usage. 

If a recommended timeframe for the replacement of the cam belt is included in the owner’s manual, and your car is within it, please don’t hesitate to book an appointment with our car garage today. Replacing the timing belt before it breaks could save you a lot of money in the longer term. 

Advanced Warranty

If, on the other hand, your vehicle’s manual doesn’t state anything about when you should be looking to have the cam belt replaced, or if you are unsure about any other aspect of the servicing of your car, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us regardless.  

The Advanced Service Centre team can provide informal advice, and perhaps book you in for a complete service, when you call us on 01268 206600.