You may have never heard of a timing belt--until you are facing a problem with one. When that happens, timing belts suddenly become very important. Here is all of the information you need to know about timing belts, and how to make sure your timing belt is working properly.

About Timing Belts

It can be hard to visualize a timing belt and what it does for your car. You can picture a timing belt acting like a bicycle chain. They used to be made exclusively in metal, but now timing belts are usually made of hard rubber. Timing belts work to make sure all of the parts of your engine are in perfect sync with each other--from the crankshaft and camshaft to the exhaust. Your engine cannot work properly without a timing belt.

Timing belts are made to last a long time, as belts go. Most car manufacturers recommend you have the timing belt replaced between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. Over time, the timing belt will get worn out. While it can be tempting to put off replacing your timing belt, that’s something you don’t want to do. If your timing belt breaks while you are driving, hard pieces of the belt can shatter engine components. In fact, many mechanics call a faulty timing belt a grenade--because when it goes, it can take out your car’s engine with it. 

Check with your car’s manufacturer to make sure that when the time comes to have your timing belt replaced, you get that done as soon as possible. That way, you’ll be able to drive your car safely for many miles to come. 

When you need to have someone look at your timing belt, you need to give us a call. We’re located at 4547 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, Florida, 34233. You can also give us a call at 941.371.5981.