How can I tell if I need to change my timing belt?

Consult your service manual for the correct alignment procedure for your vehicle and correct any misalignment before installing the new timing belt. These marks may also be displayed on a label on the timing belt cover on some engines. Check the area around the belt for signs of oil leakage.

Can you remove the tensioner on a timing belt?

Keep testing yourself! Loosen the mounting bolt (s) holding the belt tensioner using any special cam holding tools, while following the service manual. Do not remove the tensioner completely unless replacing it.

What should the timing be on a small block Chevy?

When in doubt, total timing should be somewhere between 34 and 36 degrees. A typical small-block Chevy’s timing curve needs to be set somewhere in this range for maximum performance, when the engine is being revved at 3500 RPM. At this point, the timing should stop advancing and should remain steady.

What do I need to adjust the timing on my car?

Your timing must be at the correct setting for your car to perform at top level, affecting the speed and efficiency at which the engine fires. You can adjust your car’s timing with a timing light and a set of wrenches, tools available at any auto parts store.

How long does it take to change timing belt on GM car?

On most of GM’s front-wheel-drive cars, there isn’t much clearance between the timing belt end of the engine and the strut tower or inner fender panel. That can make changing the belt difficult. The average flat rate labor time on most OHC engines is about 2.5 hours, with the majority of engines falling somewhere in the 2.0- to 3.0-hour range.

When to replace timing belt on 1998 Metro?

But most belt manufacturers recommend replacing the timing belts on these engines at 60,000-mile intervals (see chart on page 21). The only exception is GM’s recommendation to replace the timing belt at 100,000 miles on the 1998 1.0L 3-cylinder Chevy Metro. Determining the true condition of a timing belt isn’t easy for two reasons.

What should I do if my timing belt fails?

Caution: If the timing belt has broken and the engine is an “interference” engine such as the 1996 3.4L DOHC V6 or Cadillac’s 3.0L V6 that does not have enough clearance between the valves and pistons to prevent contact if the belt fails, do not crank the engine or rotate the crankshaft or camshaft as doing so may only cause further damage.

What kind of timing belt does a GM overhead cam use?

Some overhead cam engines in General Motors vehicles use timing belts to drive the cam (the 2.0L for example), some use chains (2.3L Quad Four, Cadillac’s Northstar dual overhead cam 4.6L V8, the Aurora Northstar 4.0L V8 and Chevy’s Vortec 4200 inline six), and some use a combination of both (Chevrolet’s 3.4L V6).

How do you change the timing belt on a Honda Accord?

To do this, turn the crankshaft with a socket and the ratchet attached to the threaded bolt on the front of the crankshaft. Rotate until the TDC mark on the crankshaft pulley is aligned with the pointer on the lower cover timing belt. 6) Loosen the front right wheel nuts.

Where to find the TDC mark on a timing belt?

(2b) The flywheel pulley TDC mark is accessible through a hole in the bellhousing. (2c) The camshaft TDC is easy to find — especially if you add white paint as we did. We cannot stress this enough: Be careful!

Can a broken timing belt be removed on an interference engine?

Don’t do this on interference engines unless you’re sure the belt is still intact. If you have not already bent your valves with a broken timing belt, you will likely do so if you spin the crankshaft without the camshaft spinning. Determine if the harmonic balancer pulley needs to be removed to remove the timing belt cover.

When to replace timing belt?

Every car manufacturer recommends replacing the timing belt after a given time, and it is imperative to take this advice. The time or distance between timing belt replacement depends on the specific make and model of the vehicle, but on average it should be changed every 100,000 miles.

How often should you change your timing belt?

Your timing belt should be replaced every 50,000–70,000 miles, depending on your car’s make and model.

How much does it cost to change a timing belt?

A typical timing belt will only cost between $25 and $50, but the repair takes at least a few hours. The labor cost to replace a timing belt can range from $200 – $900.

How do you change the timing belt?

Car Timing Belt Replacement Method. Opening Your engine To change it, you need to put your Serpentine belt or fan belt off. To do this, Loosen the nuts and push it down to take off your serpentine belt. To access timing belt, 1st open bolts of Timing Cover. You need to put the top cover & bottom cover off.

How to check and replace timing belt in a Dodge Caravan?

Apply 250 inch pounds (28 Nm) of torque and tauten the tensioner’s pulley bolt to 23 foot pounds (31 Nm). Take out the plunger pin. Recheck the timing marks by turning the crankshaft two rotations to the right. Reconnect the front timing belt cover and the engine mount and bracket. Secure the crankshaft damper at 105 foot pounds (142 Nm).

Can a broken timing belt cause a bent valve?

If you have not already bent your valves with a broken timing belt, you will likely do so if you spin the crankshaft without the camshaft spinning. Determine if the harmonic balancer pulley needs to be removed to remove the timing belt cover.

Can a power steering pump be used as a timing belt?

You’ll probably have to move the power steering pump out of your way so you can reach the timing belt cover. This shouldn’t cause any issues as long as you remove it carefully and make sure it doesn’t get damaged. There are other parts you may need to remove to access the timing belt cover, though. Keep looking for a better answer!

How do you tension a timing belt pulley?

Place the timing belt on each timing belt pulley and ensure proper engagement between the timing belt pulley and timing belt teeth. Lengthen the center distance or adjust the tensioning idler to remove any timing belt slack. Using a tape measure, measure the span length of the drive in inches. Refer to dimension “P” in the diagram above.

What’s the difference between timing belt and timing chain?

Unlike belts, timing chains usually don’t have a routine replacement interval. The timing belt (or chain) is the sole component that keeps the camshaft (make that camshafts on a DOHC or V-type OHC engine) and crankshaft in sync.

Can a taut timing belt stand a strong pull?

While a taut string or timing belt can stand a strong pull. Take up any loose slack in the timing belt by adjusting the center to center distance between the two timing belt pulleys. Before any final tensioning is to be applied make sure that the timing belt teeth are fully seated in the tooth grooves on both timing belt pulleys.

How often do you need to change your timing belt?

Some manufacturers recommend changing the timing belt every 60,000 miles, others recommend longer intervals. The timing belt connects the crankshaft to the camshafts so valves open and close at the right time.

How many hours does it take to change the timing belt?

The timing belt can be completed at the same time; but typically private mechanics or shops will charge for individual hour replacement; so another 4 to 6 hours roughly. If you’d like, feel free to submit a quote request for the water pump replacement and timing belt replacement.

How many miles should I change timing belt?

The US service manual states that the timing belt should be replaced at 72 months (6 years) or 90,000 miles. The vast majority of NSXs hit 6 years well before they are anywhere near 90k miles so many owners are wondering if they really need to change the belt at 6 years.

How to get my timing back correct after?

3. Install the timing belt (4) starting at the crankshaft sprocket (10) going in a counterclockwise direction. Install the belt around the last sprocket and maintain tension on the belt as it is positioned around the tensioner pulley (11).

How do you change the timing belt on a car?

(5) Release any belt tension by freeing up the belt tensioner pulley. (6) Slip the new belt into place without disturbing the cam or crank pulleys, or the engine will be out of time. Check by slowly rotating the crank two full turns with a socket on the crank snout.

Why do you need to lock down the timing belt?

Even though belts will not last as long as a chain, they are quieter and often easier to line up correctly with the cam and crank locked down. Anytime the belt is removed, the cam and crank need to be aligned to TDC No.1, which is where the marks on the crankshaft pulley line up with the pointer on the front cover.

Do you have to be dead on with timing belt alignment?

Because modern vehicles use so many electronics to control the engine with things such as crank and camshaft timing sensors, technicians need to be, as we say in the industry, “dead-on” with the timing belt alignment. The cam gear cannot be off by even a tooth, or the engine will set a DTC.

Can a harmonic balancer be removed from a timing belt?

Determine if the harmonic balancer pulley needs to be removed to remove the timing belt cover. Often, the cover saddles over the end of the crankshaft, and this pulley will not allow you to remove the cover without first removing it.

How often should timing belts and chains be replaced?

Timing belt and chain replacement is one service that isn’t going away any time soon. Most Ford engines with overhead cam timing belts have a recommended replacement interval of 60,000 miles to 120,000 miles depending on the application (see the chart on page 54).

When to change timing belt on Ford Tempo?

Should you ever encounter a 1984-86 Ford Escort or Tempo with a 2.0L diesel engine (which are very scarce, fortunately), be warned that step one of the timing belt replacement procedure is to remove the engine from the vehicle! It’s a six-hour job to change a timing belt on one of these little beasts!

What happens if the timing belt snaps on a Ford?

The consequences of a timing belt failure on a Ford depend on the application. Fortunately for many Ford owners, there is enough clearance between the valves and the pistons so no harm will come to the engine if the belt snaps.

What kind of timing chain does Ford use?

The rest of Ford’s powerplants rely on timing chains to keep the camshaft and valves moving. This includes everything from the older 289/302/351 pushrod V8s to the latest OHC 4.6L and 5.4L V8s. Chains are longer lived than most timing belts, and there are no recommended chain replacement intervals published by Ford for these engines.

Can a worn out timing belt cause a fire?

Engine misfires A worn out timing belt might also impact the engine’s fire rate. The timing belt is attached to pulleys that drive the crank and camshaft as we’ve indicated above. However, sometimes the belt will slip on the camshaft drive and cause one cylinder to open or close earlier than it should.

When to change timing belt on Ford F150?

Conclusion: Ford F150 Timing Chain Symptoms Most manufacturers will recommend changing the timing belt at 60k or 100k miles. There isn’t usually a service window at all for the chains. Although, it can vary.

What are the symptoms of a bad timing belt?

Ford F150: Bad Timing Belt or Chain Symptoms 1 Ford F150: Bad Timing Belt/Chain Symptoms. Engine Won’t Start – If your F150’s timing chain or belt has fallen off completely, broken, or has jumped a few teeth, it is 2 Don’t Overlook the Tensioner. The timing tensioner can also go bad. 3 Conclusion: Ford F150 Timing Chain Symptoms.

Can a timing belt be used instead of a chain?

Timing belts are not that common. You’re much more likely to find a timing chain in cars and trucks than belts. Smaller cars, particularly Japanese made ones, can use timing belts instead of a timing chain. They are most commonly found on four cylinder engines.

When to change timing belt on Chevy Equinox?

It’s so hard to get to, and timing belts/chains are relatively affordable. It’s just the TIME that it would take you or your mechanic to get to it that’s the problem. Most manufacturers will recommend changing the timing belt at 60k or 100k miles. There isn’t usually a service window at all for the chains. Although, it can vary.

What happens if you break the timing belt on a Ford Focus?

Go by the manufacturer recommended interval. Some vehicles are what we call interference engines, which means if that belt breaks it will slam the Pistons into the valves bending them and ruining your heads. I do not believe a focus is, so all you are risking is being stranded.

When to replace the timing belt on a Ford?

Ford recommends that you replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles for almost all of its models.

How do you take the timing belt off a Ford Escort?

Line up the camshafts with a camshaft alignment tool and mark the camshaft belt so you can put it back in place and remove the camshaft belt. Find the tensioner pulley on the front of the engine near the center and loosen the pulley bolt with a socket wench, taking the tension off the timing belt.

When to replace timing chain on Ford Falcons?

There is no ‘change over’ time for the Falcons timing chains that I am aware of. I recall Ford saying they used chains precisely for this reason, its the rubber belt driven cams that need replacing. Your problem is quite likely the valve lash adjusters, its easy enought to work out if you listen to the donk.

When do you change the timing belt on an Acura?

Acuras have one of the longest intervals for timing belt replacement. Most models, like those with 3.2-liter engines, do not need their timing belt replaced until they hit 92,000 miles or after six years, whichever comes first. Others can go as long as 105,000 miles before the belt has to be replaced.

How can I tell if I need to change my timing belt?