What are the consequences of a broken car timing belt?
2 Answers
Here are the impacts of a broken car timing belt: 1. A broken timing belt will cause loss of power in the car. 2. Weak acceleration and unstable idle speed. 3. Abnormal noises from the engine. When the timing belt breaks, due to inertia, the crankshaft continues to drive the pistons up and down, while the valves remain stationary as the camshaft stops rotating. This results in bent valve stems and dented piston tops. In severe cases, the engine may require major repairs or even be completely scrapped. Additional information: Generally, vehicles need to replace the timing belt after driving 30,000 to 80,000 kilometers. If the timing belt shows signs of hardening, wear, fiber breakage, cracks, or fissures, it indicates that the belt is damaged and should no longer be used.
A broken timing belt is no joke. I experienced it firsthand when my car suddenly stalled on the road and became completely immobile. The mechanic later confirmed that the broken belt caused the valves to collide with the pistons, bending the valves and damaging the piston tops, requiring a major engine overhaul that cost me over 8,000 yuan. The scariest part was the sudden stall while driving—it made steering and braking much harder, nearly causing an accident. That’s why I now strictly follow the manual’s replacement schedule, usually every 60,000 km. Aging or poor-quality belts are prone to snapping, so regular inspections can save you from huge headaches. Don’t skip maintenance just to save money.
