Timing belt - what is it? What will the belt timing belt lead to, and how to prevent it

A modern car is a complex mechanism, consisting of a number of structural parts and components. Among them we can note the cooling system (SOD), the gearbox (Gearbox), etc. One of the most important parts is the timing belt. What is this mechanism and how is it arranged? About all this and not only - later in our article.

Timing belt - what is it? Characteristic of the element

The timing belt is a part that synchronizes the operation of the distributor and crankshaft. In other words, this element serves for the timely supply of fuel to the engine cylinders. Without this, the correct operation of the motor and the normal movement of the car are simply impossible. In addition to the two shafts, the timing belt can drive a water pump, which, in turn, circulates the antifreeze in the cooling system. The element considered by us is of great importance for the car. A sudden break in the timing belt can lead to expensive engine repairs. But about this a little later, but for now let's talk about the location and design of this mechanism.

What does the timing belt look like and where is it?

What is this element, we have already disassembled, now about where it is located. On most modern cars, the timing belt is in front of the engine compartment, namely between the engine block and the radiator. Depending on the car brand, this part can be hidden or already visible after opening the hood. But even to "camouflaged" belt to get very easily, as its location is carefully thought out by automakers. The maximum that needs to be done is to remove a pair of plastic protectors or a decorative cover (the latter is mounted on most elite cars). Externally, the timing belt (the photo of this mechanism you can see below) is a rubber serrated rim of closed type. The teeth themselves are made from the inside of the element. Also note that automakers do not produce universal belts. They are selected to each machine separately.

Breakage of the device

Breakage of the timing belt - a very terrible phenomenon for the car. As we said earlier, the consequences for the engine in such a situation can be very serious. If to be more specific, at breakage of a belt the camshaft stops in one position. And the crankshaft continues to spin further. As a result, the piston starts to beat on the open valves and they are simply oppressed. In some cases, the repair was not limited to replacing deformed parts - it was necessary to restore the entire engine piston group .

Features of the break for 8- and 16-valve cars

It should be noted that the more complex the design of the motor, the more serious will be the consequences for it when the belt is broken. So, on the usual 8-valve ICE can get rid of a simple replacement of the device. At the same time on the 16-valve engine, you have to completely repair the damaged valves and pistons (that is, to replace them). But this does not mean that driving a 16-valve car is very dangerous and that they are not suitable for long-distance travel. If you regularly monitor its external condition, you will not be sure to break the belt. Also, when inspecting the gear element, it is recommended to pay attention to the condition of the oil seal of the distribution and crankshafts for leakage, and also to diagnose the tension rollers for service. Remember that the failure of these elements significantly affects the belt life.

Causes of precipice

There are a number of reasons why the timing belt breaks. Most often this happens because of deterioration or poor-quality assembly of the product itself. There is such a thing as fatigue of the material. With each passing day the timing belt loses its former elasticity, exfoliates, cracks appear on it. Also, he is torn because of the jammed pump and tension rollers. Most rarely this situation occurs when one or more camshafts are jammed.

Dismantling and installation by own hands

Replacing the timing belt with your own hands is as follows. At first, the rear wheels of the car are fixed with anti-skid pads. Further the front part of the machine is jacked up. In this case, unscrew the front right wheel. So we will have access to the crankshaft pulley (we also have to dismantle it). How is the pulley extracted? To do this, remove the drive belt, which unwinds the hydraulic power steering, then remove the generator, the spark plugs (the I cylinder must be in the TDC) and the air conditioning pump. Only then will the path to the pulley be freed. The latter can be removed both with a puller and manually.

After all the above operations, remove the right support for the engine, which covers the covers that cover the timing belt. What will it give us? Thanks to the removal of the lids, we will have full access to the gear mechanism, and then we can safely remove it. And the belt is removed by unscrewing the tensioning roller locking bolt. After that, safely take it out. In its place is mounted a new timing belt. It must be tightened by tightening the crankshaft fixing bolt. The rest of the assembly work is carried out in the reverse order. On this question "how to replace the timing belt with your own hands" can be considered closed.

Nuances when installing

Please note that the crankshaft pulleys and the camshaft pulleys must not be rotated during installation. They must remain in their places. If everything is done correctly, the engine's operation will be consistent and stable, without extraneous vibrations and sounds.

Resource mechanism

Many motorists ask the question: "When to change the timing belt?" It is clear that the element we are considering is not eternal, and therefore in due course is subject to replacement. Especially if you sit down that not every belt serves just as much as the manufacturer measured it. The fact is that on the shelves of shops a lot of defective parts and fakes. It is very difficult to distinguish them from the original, since the main (carrier) part is inside the belt. In this case, we focus on price policy, using the rule of the "golden mean". Also, do not buy products without the original packaging and any signs.

As for a particular resource, all modern automakers recommend changing the belt every 80-100 thousand kilometers of run (or every 4-5 years). More precise values can be found in the manual of your car, as there is a specific resource for each model. It can be 70 and 200 thousand kilometers.

But again, the exact time frame during which this part will regularly serve the benefit of your car, it is very difficult to predict. You can not install the belt and forget about it for the next 80 thousand kilometers. He can break off both on 10, and on 40 thousand, and can serve and longer than the specified term. Determine when to change the timing belt, accurate to a kilometer is simply impossible. Therefore, once every 3 months, you should monitor its external state. It should not have microcracks and detachments. Otherwise, you are expected to break the belt and, as a consequence, the overhaul of the motor. And one more thing: this element must always be in a stretched state. You can check it as follows. If the belt is scrolled by the fingers of the hand more than 90 degrees, then it must be pulled.

The upcoming replacement is also signaled by the smell of burnt rubber at the installation site of the structural element. Once you catch a characteristic smell, it's better to change it to a new one.

Price of issue

How much does the timing belt? The price of this item can be very different, it all depends on the brand and model of the machine. So, on domestic Zhiguli you can buy a part for 100-120 rubles. How much does the timing belt for European cars? In the case of modern foreign cars such as Nissan Kashkay, Kia Rio, etc., the price of this product can reach thousands of rubles.

Cost of installation

Such a service, like the installation of a gas distribution belt, is practically at every service station. Depending on the car brand and the complexity of the design of its engine, this procedure will cost you 3-10 thousand rubles. But you can change your belt with your own hands, using the above instructions. As you could see for yourself, this process is not too complicated and requires a minimum set of tools.

Conclusion

So, we found out how the timing belt changes, what kind of gear it is and what importance it represents for the car. As you can see, despite the primitive design, the malfunction of this element is fraught with expensive repair of the engine engine. Therefore, regularly evaluate its external condition, and it is better to carry a spare belt in the trunk, since when the old one is broken off, further movement of the car is possible only on the tow truck or tow. At least, to start the engine again with a broken belt is unlikely to succeed, not to mention the subsequent movement.