The timing belt is responsible for aligning the timing of other critical components of the engine together. It should be replaced within the time or mileage limits the manufacturer recommends. Different cars can have different limits for replacing the belt. It also depends on the driving habits, weather, and road conditions. After every 5 years or 50000 miles, you should aim to replace the timing belt, no matter if there are any signs of a bad timing belt or not. For confirmation, you can go through the owner’s manual of your car.
A bad timing belt can have some symptoms, but not necessarily. There is a possibility that there are no symptoms but you may still need to replace it, so it’s better to replace it on time before it’s too late.
Engine Misfire
The timing belt controls the timing of the engine’s mechanical parts and keeps them synchronized with each other. It is also responsible for aligning the crankshaft and camshaft with other mechanical parts and helping them to move smoothly. If the belt timing is disturbed for any reason then, it can cause the cylinders not to open and close at the required times, which can lead to the engine to misfire.
Check engine light
Not in every case check engine light refers to the bad timing belt, but if the timing of the engine is out of order then the engine can misfire which can activate the check engine light. Check engine light should never be ignored, it indicates there is some issue with the engine or its related parts and needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
Abnormal engine noise
If the timing belt is loose or started to wear then it can create unpleasant sounds of ticking or clicking. Not in all cases does abnormal noise indicate a bad timing belt as there could be some other issue like loose pulley bolts. In both cases, you should not ignore the sounds, and need to be fixed
Low engine power
A faulty timing belt can cause the engine to run unevenly, shaking, and rough idles. It also can lower your engine power as mechanical parts of the engine do not synchronize with each other as required. It can also cause fluctuation between the voltage levels. You can expect a hard engine start or even no start in some cases depending on how much the timing belt has been damaged.
Oil leakages
With the passage of time belt can loosen as the pully’s bolt can loosen. It can cause oil to leak and if this is the case you can notice oil around the timing belt cover. Oil leakage is a serious matter and needs to be addressed immediately. Not every time oil leakage indicates a bad timing belt. It could be due to some worn seals but in either case, the leakage must be stopped as soon as possible.
Exhaust smoke and smell
Improper timing can lead to incorrect fuel burning. You can experience a long engine start with unusual black smoke from the exhaust pipe outlet with an unpleasant smell. It indicates poor engine timing and the engine is consuming more power to work than normal.
Belt appearance
You can visually inspect the timing belt and observe if there are worn or damaged signs like rough surfaces or any signs of thread visibility in the belt. If any abnormality is found in appearance then do not wait for the recommended miles limit to complete. You should immediately visit your mechanic for replacement. Delay in the replacement can lead to a broken timing belt and cause severe damage to your engine’s mechanical parts.
What to do if the timing belt broken
If you do not replace the overdue timing belt as you do not experience any bad belt symptoms then it can lead to a broken timing belt. You can not drive a car once it’s broken. The only left option will be to call the car recovery service provided and take your car to the workshop.