When To Change The Car’s Timing Belt

Knowing when to change the timing belt is an essential aspect to consider in vehicle maintenance. This element is responsible for synchronizing the movement of the air and fuel valves during the intake and exhaust processes.

Therefore, the timing belt allows the correct operation of the crankshaft and, therefore, of the entire engine block.

It is an element that moves continuously during the journey and at high speed, so it suffers a lot of wear. This is why it is important to know how to keep it in good condition and replace it safely when necessary.

In the event of driving with a damaged timing belt, we run the risk of suffering a breakdown that would render the car unusable.

Speaking in terms of distance, timing belts can have service lives of around 100,000 to 120,000 kilometers. However, it is also important to consider how old these items are.

Change timing belt for years

The technical specifications of each vehicle will reflect the type of timing belt recommended by the manufacturer. In addition, you can find the time after which it will be convenient to change it. The usual thing is to have to change the timing belt every five years or, at least, have it serviced after this time.

If the car is not subjected to very aggressive driving or is not used frequently, the belt can extend its life up to seven or 10 years.

However, it will be important to check its condition as we approach that time, as fatigue may have deteriorated the strap. This phenomenon is one of the most studied by manufacturers, and can lead to belt breakage.

The weather will also affect the condition of the belt and its deterioration, combining fatigue with a possible abrasion phenomenon. As an example, movement within extreme climates, below -10 degrees or above +30 degrees, the belt will suffer additional damage.

You also have to take into account humid or salty environments, such as on the coasts, or very dusty. All of these factors can reduce the life of the timing belt to less than four years.

The price of changing the timing belt

There is no set price when it comes to changing the car’s timing belt. Depending on the model and type of engine, this job can cost between 300 and 1,000 euros, with the entire kit and labor. On the other hand, belt breakage is one of the most costly breakdowns. If this element breaks, especially at high speeds, it is very likely to damage another element of the engine.

This may be due to loss of coordination at the crankshaft, where valves or pistons can be damaged. Belt breakage can lead to damage of between 1,500 and 2,000.

They can even rise to over 6,000 if various elements of the engine block are damaged. Therefore, this element must be periodically and carefully reviewed.

Timing belt or chain

Whether the vehicle runs on a chain or a timing belt is a matter of design. Both technologies are valid, and each has its own particular advantages.

Belts are cheaper for manufacturers and produce less engine noise. However, they must be changed relatively frequently and require more routine maintenance.

On the other hand, the chains have a higher resistance. A chain is highly unlikely to ever break, and does not require as regular maintenance as timing belts.

Even so, it must be changed anyway, since it is an element also subject to wear and tear. In addition, it produces considerably more noise than chains.

Since the late 1980s, car manufacturers began to move away from the use of chains in favor of belts, mainly to save costs. This was an added problem for customers, having to rely more often on maintenance for this item.

Fortunately, today there is enough information for any user to be able to maintain their own vehicle at home, including the timing belt.