A timing belt is a rubber band or chain that mainly functions to connect a car's camshaft and crankshaft in order to ensure that the engine's internal parts are all working in synchronization with each other. It's very difficult to tell when a timing belt needs to be replaced, but a good time to do so is when your car reaches 100,000 kilometers.
In a four-stroke engine, each cylinder can be in one of four states: intake, in which fuel and air are allowed into the cylinder; compression, in which the mixture is compressed to maximize the output force; power, in which the compressed air-fuel mixture is ignited; and exhaust, in which the exhaust from the combustion is let out of the cylinder. During an engine's cycle, its cylinders are never all in the same state. To make sure that each is in the correct state, a metal rod called a camshaft continuously rotates, keeping the cylinders in motion.
The energy generated by the motion of the cylinders rotates the crankshaft, a metal rod that in turn provides all the driving force needed to make the car move. If the motion of the cylinders comes out of synch with the crankshaft, then the engine will not run and there is a high risk of damage to its internal parts. This is where the timing belt comes in.
The timing belt simply connects the camshaft and the crankshaft so that the cylinders are always in synch with the crankshaft. It is made of very heavy-duty material, designed to withstand the extreme temperatures that come with being so close to the engine. When a mechanic installs a new timing belt, it has to be set up specifically so that the camshaft and crankshaft are in perfect synchronization. To do this the mechanic needs to use a specialized tool, called timing light.
When you go in to the garage to have a new timing belt installed, you may also consider having your water pump replaced. Modern engine's use timing belts to drive the car's water pumps in addition to keeping the engine in synch. A mechanic will have to remove the water pump in order to replace the timing belt, so it will save you from paying for the labour twice if you decide to replace both parts at once.
Timing Belt Ottawa
