Timing Belts in Falkirk
What is the function of a timing belt?
Cam belts are belts that are normally made of rubber that control an engine valve's timing.
Engine valves must open and close a specific number of times and a cam belt is responsible for this happening.
The teeth of a timing belt are attentively designed to perform effectively for the intended engine.
These teeth turn the camshaft of your vehicle and makes sure that it remains synchronised with the crankshaft.
The camshaft will need to turn half as fast as the crankshaft, and the cam belt regulates this.
If this is stopped for any reason, then the engine will not function correctly which will result in your engine being damaged.
Reasons for such damage can be things such as valves in the vehicle's engine staying open at the wrong times causing them to be stuck by the engine's pistons.
What cam belts are
A timing belt is a belt that connects a vehicle's crankshaft and camshaft. It is covered with teeth that vary in shape dependant upon the type of belt you have. Round teeth will be found of newer models of cam belt, whereas triangular teeth tend to cover traditional belts.
Cam belts are constructed from rubber and are then strengthened by materials such as fibreglass so that they will last longer. Modern cam belts will sometimes be made from durable materials such as HSN so that they are not damaged by high temperatures in engines. Recently made cam belts are manufactured much thinner so as to lower weight and as a result, friction.
The results of not addressing timing belt issues
If you fail to notice your cam belt is damaged, or worse still; a failure to address the issue can have disastrous consequences for your engine. Should you have an interference engine on your vehicle failure to replace a cam belt that is damage will almost certainly damage your car. If your timing belt snaps completely the car will not run, but if the belt continues to work whilst it is damaged your engine could be damaged beyond repair without your knowledge.
Should your timing belt be damaged the pistons and valves in your engine will knock together which can result in cracks forming in your valve guides. You car's valve guides can also end up bent which can result in considerable expense to fix. You might even end up with a broken camshaft.
If you have a damaged timing belt you can visit RepairACar to find a registered cam belt mechanic in Falkirk.
Issues with timing belts
Problems with a car's timing belt are one of the leading causes of breakdowns. There can be a number of different problems with timing belts and recognising them in time can be the difference between breaking down or not. Having your cam belt snap is the worst possible problem, but there are a number of things that can cause this to happen.
Cam belts can become over stretched leading to them creaking noisily. Should the teeth fall out of your timing belt this also spells disaster as the camshaft will not be turned. The camshaft will not function if the timing belt is not aligned in the correct way.
Timing belts can also suffer oil damage changing the size of the belt, stopping it from properly functioning. Timing belts can also become slack resulting in them slipping out of their desired position. Cam belt corrosion can also result in them snapping.
