What are the consequences of a car's timing belt breaking?

[BrodyLee]

If a car's timing belt breaks, it can result in loss of power, poor acceleration, unstable idling, and abnormal engine noises. In severe cases, it may cause the engine to be completely damaged. The timing belt is a crucial component of the engine's valve system, ensuring accurate intake and exhaust timing by connecting to the crankshaft and maintaining a specific transmission ratio. The timing belt plays a pivotal role in synchronizing the engine's operation. Typically, vehicles require timing belt replacement after driving 30,000 to 80,000 kilometers. When the timing belt breaks, the crankshaft continues to drive the pistons up and down due to inertia, while the valves remain stationary as the camshaft stops rotating. If a valve is stuck at its lowest point, the piston in that cylinder may collide with the valve when it reaches the top dead center.