Timing Belt Maintenance

For Faster Service Call 828-254-8661

Cox Auto Service near Patton Avenue has provided Asheville, NC residents with vehicle maintenance and repair since 1970. This service includes timing belt maintenance.

Does your belt or chain need replacement? Let the ASE-certified automotive specialists at Cox Auto Service evaluate your belt condition. After all, you need to keep your vehicle running its best, to avoid costly repairs after a breakdown.

Although most people use the term “belt” today, chains for the same purpose are making a comeback. Previously phased out by most manufacturers in the 1970s and 1980s, chains are once again built into some automobiles. Whether your vehicle has belts or chains, Cox Auto Service provides replacement and gets your car, truck, SUV, or van quickly back on the road and running its best.

How Do Timing Belts & Timing Chains Work?

Your engine’s timing chain or belt slows the speed of the cylinder head’s camshafts to half the speed of the crankshaft. Camshafts keep time with the movement and position of your engine’s pistons. They also open and close your engine’s intake and exhaust valves according to the piston timing.

When Do Vehicles Require Timing Belt Maintenance?

You must replace your belt every 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Of course, you should follow your manufacturer’s guidelines, to determine replacement time. Even if your belt or chain shows no visible problems, the replacement must occur according to the owner’s manual to keep your engine running its best.

Other signs you need to replace your belt or chain include your engine stopping abruptly or not starting as it should. Rough engine operation and a banging engine noise also point to belt issues.

If your belt or chain breaks while you are driving, the engine stops. When the belt’s teeth wear down or the belt stretches, your engine runs poorly. This rough engine operation results from the belt skipping positions on the camshaft gears or crankshaft. If you hear a banging or clanking noise in your engine, this possibly indicates colliding pistons and valves because of a faulty or worn-out belt.

Procedure for Replacing Your Belt

Timing Belt Maintenance Needs Vary From Engine To Engine According To Design. In General Most Follow The Process Below…

Steps For Changing Your Vehicle’s Timing Belt Or Timing Chain Include:

• Disconnecting the battery ground cable
• Properly setting the crankshaft and piston to remove the crankshaft pulley, after the engine cools
• Removing engine accessories to reach the belt covers
• Removing belt covers, locking camshafts, removing belt tensioner and idler pulleys, removing the belt
• Replacing water pump and associated parts, if needed
• Installing the new belt
• Ensuring camshaft and crankshaft align properly
• Road testing the vehicle

Timing Belt Maintenance Should Not Be Ignored. Driving With Belt Damage Is Not Safe!

If you have a belt problem or did not replace your belt according to the manufacturer’s specified mileage, you risk engine failure. This loss of power to the engine can occur while you are driving the vehicle, even at top speed. This puts you at risk, as well as drivers and pedestrians around your vehicle. For some vehicles, a belt that breaks while the engine is running causes major damage to your engine’s internal parts, such as the pistons and valves.

If your vehicle’s engine experiences damage from a broken belt, that damage must be repaired before replacing the belt. When having your belt replaced, your vehicle also needs new idler pulleys and a belt tensioner installed. In some vehicles, the timing belt also powers your engine’s water pump. Most mechanics prefer to replace this pump when replacing the belt, to ensure proper functioning.

Other Car & Truck Repair Services We Provide At Cox Auto Service Include A Wide Range Of Vehicle Repair & Maintenance Services….

To Name A Few:

• Brake and tire service
• Routine maintenance
• Emission repairs
• North Carolina State Inspections
• Engine repair and replacement
• Transmission repair and replacement
• Check engine light diagnosis
• Oil checks and changes

Cox Auto Service provides auto repair and maintenance services for domestic and foreign vehicles. This includes classic cars and muscle cars. A family-owned and operated business since the 1970s, Cox Auto Service wants to provide the same stellar service for you, as we have for Asheville, NC residents for 50 years. Call us today for timing belt replacement at 828-254-8661.