What is the life of a timing belt?About replacement time and cost seen from the role | Full of information on vehicle inspection and repair Goo-net pit

Engine related parts replacement [2020.11.18 UP]

What is the life of a timing belt?About replacement time and cost seen from the role

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A timing belt is one of the parts related to the engine. When it reaches the end of its life, it will lead to engine trouble, so it is necessary to replace it at an appropriate time. However, there are many people who are not familiar with timing belts, so I think there are people who do not know the specific replacement time and judgment method and leave it as it is. Therefore, this time, we will introduce information on the timing and cost of replacement, from the basic contents such as the role, position, and mechanism of the timing belt.

What are the characteristics of timing belts?

A timing belt is a belt-shaped part made of rubber material. What kind of place is it and what role does it have? First, let's check the basic information of the timing belt.

The timing belt is located inside the engine to connect the crankshaft and camshaft. Most cars are hidden inside the cover, so even if you look over the engine room, you will rarely see the timing belt itself. However, even if it is hidden in the cover, if you know the direction of the engine or whether it corresponds to front wheel drive or rear wheel drive, you can roughly grasp the position of the timing belt.・ Longitudinal engine (mostly in rear-wheel drive vehicles): Immediately before the engine ・ Transverse engine (mostly in front-wheel drive vehicles): Left side facing the engine * Note that not all vehicles are in the above display position. please

To briefly explain the role of the timing belt, it is to link the timing of the parts (crankshaft and camshaft) necessary for the regular rotational movement of the engine.・ Crankshaft: Parts that convert piston movement to rotary movement ・ Camshaft: Parts that open and close the valve at the timing of intake and exhaust among the four processes of intake, compression, combustion, and exhaust For regular rotational movement of the engine It is necessary to repeat 4 steps (intake, compression, combustion, exhaust) at an appropriate timing. Of the four processes, the crankshaft connected by the timing belt supports the movement of the camshaft that handles intake and exhaust. The timing belt regularly transfers the power of the crankshaft to the camshaft to support the camshaft in opening and closing the valve at the right time. Due to the above roles, rubber-like belts that link the timing of parts to each other have come to be called "timing belts".

The timing belt is a rubber belt as I mentioned earlier. However, it is not simply made of rubber, but contains fiber wires such as nylon and glass fiber, making it difficult to cut. In addition, the inside of the timing belt is characterized by having a piece (a protrusion for engaging with the pulley of each shaft). The top meshes well with each pulley to prevent the interlocking time difference between the crankshaft and camshaft. As information related to the timing belt top and pulley, let's also pay attention to the surrounding meshing. As mentioned above, the timing belt meshes with the camshaft pulley (cam pulley) and the crankshaft pulley (crank pulley). However, in addition to the above, the timing belt also meshes with other pulleys inside the engine, such as water pumps, auto tensioners, and oil pumps. If the timing belt is damaged, most of the engine will stop. If the timing belt breaks, it is highly likely that the engine will blow.

As a part similar to a timing belt, a maintenance-free timing chain with increased strength and quietness has also appeared. Timing chains are characterized by being able to cover the deterioration life that is a drawback of timing belts. Originally, timing chains existed before the introduction of timing belts. However, timing chains at that time had many drawbacks such as high cost, noise, and easy elongation, and until a long time ago, timing belts that covered these drawbacks were the mainstream. With the advent of new maintenance-free timing chains due to technological development, the mainstream is changing from timing belts to timing chains.

When is the life of the timing belt?

Demand is switching to timing chains, but many cars are equipped with timing belts. Check the information that can be used as a guide for replacement, such as the life of the timing belt and the cause of deterioration.

It is said that the average life of a timing belt is 10 years (mileage 100,000 km). However, since this is a calculation result assuming that the vehicle will travel 10,000 km a year, it does not necessarily reach the end of its life in 10 years. The life of the timing belt will change depending on the situation and how you ride. For example, if you continue to drive under heavy load on mountain roads or places with many rough roads, it is undeniable that the deterioration speed may accelerate compared to normal conditions (driving with less load). In addition, there is a difference in the deterioration rate between light vehicles and ordinary vehicles with different displacements. Compared to light cars, ordinary cars have a large amount of energy, so the timing belt tends to be overloaded. Information such as "Because I haven't replaced the car of XX for more than a few years ..." and "Because the previous car was okay to ride for XX years ..." is not reliable, so be careful.

In many cases, heavy-duty operation such as sudden start, sudden acceleration, and sudden stop leads to deterioration of the timing belt, but it is not uncommon for other factors to be involved. There are many possible factors, but the following are three main possible cases.

If the rubber parts of the engine such as packing are deteriorated, water may infiltrate when driving in the rain and the deterioration may be accelerated. Be especially careful with older cars, as the engine is more likely to come into contact with water when driving on flooded roads.

If you continue to use the engine oil while it is old, the engine will slow down and the load on the timing belt will tend to increase. Check and replace the engine oil properly, and be careful not to use it in an old state.

The presence of coolant is essential because the engine gets hot when it is run. However, the engine does not cool sufficiently when the amount of coolant is low, and the heat accelerates the deterioration of the rubber of the timing belt. If you have overheated, it is highly possible that the timing belt has been heavily loaded, so we recommend that you send it out for inspection.

It will be extremely difficult to detect the sign that the timing belt will break. Even if the timing belt makes a strange noise before it breaks, in most cases the engine will stop immediately after deceleration without time to replace it. If you detect abnormal noise from the vicinity of the engine while driving without problems, it is possible that the noise is coming from the fan belt or air conditioner belt instead of the timing belt. However, the inside of the engine is not a place that can be easily checked by an amateur, so request an inspection as soon as you notice something wrong. If safety and security are prioritized, it is important to carry out regular inspections on a regular basis, even if you are not aware of any abnormalities, so that you can accurately grasp the condition of your vehicle.

If the engine reaches the end of its life without replacing the timing belt, the engine will stop. The possibility of damage or damage inside the engine will increase, and repair costs may jump up. Sudden stops along the way can lead to major accidents, so it is ideal to replace the timing belt before it reaches the end of its life. If you get a word such as "replacement of timing belt" during inspection, ask for more information and then deal with it as soon as possible.

Timing belt replacement method and cost

Timing belt replacement costs are generally high. From here, let's check how much it costs to replace the timing belt and how it can be replaced.

The main flow of how to replace the timing belt is as follows. 1. Prepare a replacement timing belt, seals, maintenance manuals, etc. 2. Remove the negative terminal of the battery 3. Remove the cover so that the timing belt can be seen 4. No oil or water has adhered to the timing belt Check if it is cut or not. 5. If there is oil or water on it, prevent it from leaking. If it is broken, proceed to the next step. 6. Mark each pulley and the old timing belt to prevent misalignment. 7. Remove the old timing belt. 8. Based on the mark of the old timing belt, use the new timing belt. Also mark at the same position 9. Adjust the crankshaft and cam shaft to align the 1st piston with the compression top blind point. 10. Keep the state of (9) and attach a new timing belt by relying on the marking 11 Rotate it 4 to 5 times by hand to check if there is any interference. 12. Installation is completed if there is no abnormality. It seems easy to replace, but it is necessary to install it without any deviation of one gear frame. I have. In addition, since you often touch the parts around the engine, it is recommended to ask a contractor rather than doing it yourself, considering the risk of replacement. You can request a replacement of the timing belt at a store close to you, such as a dealer or a car shop. If you are interested, you should consult with the nearest store once.

There are two main costs for replacing a timing belt.・ Timing belt body: 5,000 yen ・ Timing belt replacement wage: 30,000 to 50,000 yen (including material) The timing belt body can be obtained at a relatively low price. However, if you include the replacement wages for the timing belt, let's assume that it will cost more than 30,000 yen. As the engine is dismantled, replacing the timing belt is often more expensive than other maintenance wages. In addition, wages may be higher in the following cases.・ Timing belt is broken ・ Related parts are deteriorated with the life of the timing belt If the timing belt itself is broken, there is a high possibility that other engine parts are also severely damaged, and a total of 8 including wages Replacement costs of 10,000 to 400,000 yen may be incurred. Even if it is not broken, if the timing belt, which occupies most of the engine, has reached the end of its life, it is likely that the other parts with which the pulleys are engaged are also at the end of their life. It's also a good idea to keep in mind that some vendors may recommend replacing your water pump or thermostat for your safety.

If you think about the total cost, you may consider scrapping the car. The average lifespan of 10 years (mileage 100,000 km) is said to be a milestone for cars, as repair parts and repair costs will increase, and heavy taxation of automobile tax and automobile weight tax will begin in a few years. ..・ Vehicle tax heavy duty: Gasoline vehicles (excluding hybrid vehicles) and LP gas vehicles that have been registered for 13 years (excluding hybrid vehicles) and diesel vehicles that have been registered for 11 years or more are eligible. Section: Basically, the purchase price will not increase for vehicles that have been registered for more than 13 years (first year of inspection) and vehicles that have been registered for more than 18 years and have passed 10 years. Even if the timing belt is replaced, it is unlikely that the assessed amount will be positive, so only a large expense burden will remain. As with timing belts, there are more parts that should be replaced due to deterioration over time, so if you are concerned about replacement costs, why not consider a method of letting go of the life.

summary

Timing belts are one of the essential parts for car power. Since it is usually covered with a cover and the mechanism is such that even slight deviations are not allowed, it is not something that an amateur can easily repair or inspect. However, it is very dangerous to leave it unchecked based on the information that the average lifespan is 10 years (mileage 100,000 km). Should the timing belt break, it may damage other parts. Timing belts made of rubber material deteriorate at different speeds depending on how you ride and handle the car. In order to stay in the car for a long time, keep regular inspections at your nearest dealer or car shop.

Writer profile

We are a professional group related to automobile maintenance that produces maintenance articles such as vehicle inspection / inspection, oil change, repair / painting / sheet metal, and parts carry-on installation. I would like to help people who are having trouble with how to maintain their car.

We are a professional group related to automobile maintenance that produces maintenance articles such as vehicle inspection / inspection, oil change, repair / painting / sheet metal, and parts carry-on installation. I would like to help people who are having trouble with how to maintain their car.

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