What's it do? The "technical" part

 The timing belt is essential to the operation of your car's engine.  There are two main "shafts" in your engine, the Crankshaft, and the Camshaft.  The timing belt connects these two shafts and makes them turn together at the right "time" (similar to the way a bicycle chain connects the pedals to the back wheel).  This makes sure all the other goodies in the motor (like valves and pistons) are jumping and hopping at just the right "time". Hence the name..."timing" belt.

What happens when it breaks?

The timing belt is made of rubber, eventually it rots, and breaks.  When this happens, your car stops. You have to get the car towed because it won't start until the engine is "re-timed", and the belt replaced.  With some cars you can replace the belt and that's the end of it, with other cars, it's just the beginning of sorrows...

The "Valve Benders"

Some engines have a very close fit between the top of the piston and the bottom of the valve.  When the engine is "in time" this close fit is just fine, because the piston is never up at the same time that the valve is down.  BUT, when the timing belt breaks, the valves stop moving.  Some of them are in the down position, and the piston, not aware of the little valve's predicament comes flying up and SMASHES into the poor little valve.  The valve gets all bent out of shape over this and decides not to let your engine have any compression in that cylinder.

 Life with a bent valve

Even if you replaced the timing belt at this point, the engine would still not run right, it would be very weak, and probably cough and hack because of the bent valve's poor health.  You basically "have to" fix this condition or shoot the car to put it out of its misery.

In order to fix this, a "valve job" is required.  This costs anywhere from $2500 to $3500, depending on the make of your car, and on how many "extras" are discovered that you need once the engine is torn apart.  The "good news" is....

You can save the little valves!

 All you have to do is replace the timing belt when it's due, instead of waiting until after it's dead.  The cost may be high, but it's a whole lot cheaper than waiting for it to break.

The old standard interval for timing belt replacement was every 60,000 miles.  Even if you don't drive much, you should replace it every 6 years because age and dry rot will weaken it just as much as mileage and use.  Today new materials are used and sometimes they can go 100,000 miles. 

The chart below lists the manufacturers' recommended intervals for timing belt replacement on domestic and imported cars and light trucks. These charts are for the purpose of routine maintenance.  Please refer to the proper manual or manufacturer for changes or updates affecting individual models.  Although belt life may vary, depending upon driving and temperature conditions, among other factors, these manufacturer guidelines are a good place to start in determining when to change your timing belt.  When the automaker doesn't make a specific recommendation, we suggest changing the timing belt at 60,000 miles.

 Is mine a "Valve Bender"?

 Here is a list of timing belt engines. Interference fit engines are denoted with an asterisk (*).   If your engine has an asterisk beside it, please check your records soon to see when the belt was replaced last.

If your car's engine does not have an asterisk it probably does NOT bend valves.  It is still important to replace the belt so you won't get stranded, though it's not as urgent to your wallet. (Some engines use a chain instead of a belt.  Call us if you don't know which you have.)