What Happens When a Timing Belt Fails?

Interference Explained

Do you ever think about all of the parts that work together to keep your car running? Some very important parts stand between your car’s normal performance and catastrophic engine failure! The timing belt is one of those parts. That’s why it’s important to replace it before it’s even close to wearing out. A lot can go wrong if you don’t! Auto Stop in Arlington, Virginia wants to help our customers completely avoid interference from timing belt failure. Here’s what you need to know:

What the Timing Belt Does

In case you didn’t know, engines have a lot of moving parts. The timing belt is responsible for coordinating the movement of key components so that they don’t hit each other and cause incredible damage. We’re talking about the crankshaft, camshaft, valves, and pistons -- the parts that spin, pump, and turn to power your vehicle. By coordinating the movement of the camshaft and crankshaft, the timing belt prevents the pistons and valves from striking each other.

What Is Interference?

If timing chain fails, the piston and valves may collide in the engine cylinder, causing extensive internal engine damage. Valves can bend or break, sending pieces into connecting rods and other components. Automotive professionals call the collision interference. If this happens to your car, it will need extensive, labor-intensive repairs, or maybe even an entirely new engine! That’s the worst nightmare come true for budget-minded vehicle owners. Your car will be out of commission until a professional performs major engine repairs.

What Causes Timing Belt Failure

Now that you know what interference is, you can do everything you need to to prevent it! Properly maintaining the timing belt and other components in the system will ensure that the system isn’t susceptible to sudden failure and catastrophic damage. Have a professional inspect your timing belt for signs of wear and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to replace it at certain intervals. This will ensure it doesn’t lose it control over the movement of the crankshaft and camshaft. A little bit of care can go a long way to preventing major engine problems!

If you need to replace your vehicle’s timing belt, call the experts at Auto Stop in Arlington, Virginia! We look forward to helping you!