Spotlight Magazines Spotlight Magazine for West Bridgford Sept 2015 | Page 8

Spotlight Magazine How’s Your Timing Belt? If you’re vehicle has more than 70,000 miles on it, there’s a hidden danger you should know about. It’s a fairly small part that’s wearing out, and if it breaks before you replace it, it could destroy your engine. We’re talking about the timing belt. When should the belt be replaced? Replacing the timing belt is part of regular auto maintenance, and should be performed between 70,000-110,000 miles. It’s a sad but common tale: someone’s driving down the road, and the belt snaps. The car stalls and won’t restart. The cost to replace the belt depends on the type of car you’re driving, but the average rate is a few hundred pounds, However, as we’ve already pointed out, the cost of letting it break can run in the thousands. You get the car towed to the garage, only to be told that it will cost £1000 or more to rebuild the engine. It’s common because it happens to a lot of people; it’s sad because it’s so preventable. Signs the timing belt may be failing The timing belt can fail without any prior symptoms, so if you’re within the mileage window, you should go ahead and have it replaced regardless. What does the timing belt do? It’s a small, toothed belt that connects the camshaft to the crankshaft, regulating the timing of the valves. It’s durable and takes a lot of abuse, but it won’t last forever. Don’t be one of the thousands who have to have their engines rebuilt over one small part. Replace the timing belt in time, and save yourself thousands in auto repair costs. If it breaks, the pistons immediately begin slapping against the open valves, damaging the engine. Independent SpecIalISt 8 www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 0115 822 4995 • [email protected]