What are the signs that a timing belt needs to be replaced?
2 Answers
Signs that a timing belt needs replacement: 1. Idling issues: The car experiences unstable idling while driving, is prone to stalling, mainly manifests as poor acceleration response, lack of power during acceleration, and in severe cases, engine shaking. When these symptoms are observed, apart from potential faults in components like the throttle body, the timing belt should be replaced. 2. Incorrect valve timing: If the timing belt completely breaks, it will cause incorrect opening and closing times for the valves. The piston's up-and-down reciprocating motion will be mistimed, causing the valves and pistons to collide, resulting in damage to both components and rendering the engine inoperable.
A few days ago, I just replaced the timing belt because I noticed a rattling noise from the engine while driving, like small stones hitting, followed by difficulty starting and lack of power when pressing the accelerator. Later, I took it to a shop and found small cracks on the belt, which were about to break. If this part fails, the entire engine internals could be ruined, costing thousands to repair and posing serious danger. I checked the manual, and it generally needs replacement every 60,000-70,000 kilometers or 5 years, regardless of mileage. Additionally, coolant system leaks can accelerate belt aging, so I recommend paying attention to unusual sounds and engine smoothness. Early inspection can save a lot of money.
