What are the signs before replacing a car's timing belt?
2 Answers
Signs that a car's timing belt needs replacement are as follows: 1. Mild symptoms: The car may feel underpowered and struggle to accelerate when going uphill; 2. More severe symptoms: The engine may idle poorly or shake violently at idle, the exhaust pipe may make popping sounds when accelerating, and the engine may occasionally stall with these popping sounds; 3. When the timing is significantly off: The engine may fail to start completely. In some car models, you might hear knocking sounds inside the engine when cranking, which is the sound of pistons hitting the valves. Timing issues can cause various problems, all involving internal engine damage, and severe cases may require a major overhaul.
I've been driving for over 20 years, and the timing belt is something you can't take lightly. When it's about to fail, you'll first hear a clattering or squeaking sound in the engine, especially noticeable during startup, particularly when starting a cold engine. Later, the car will lose power during acceleration and shake violently, as if it's gasping for breath. My neighbor's car ended up needing a major engine overhaul costing over ten thousand yuan because the belt wasn't replaced in time. So don't skimp on those few hundred yuan for maintenance. It's recommended to get it checked and replaced at around 100,000 kilometers, and asking the mechanics for advice can save you a lot of trouble. Also, pay attention to abnormal vibrations during daily driving—if something feels off, don't push it, as delaying will only make things worse.
