How Long Does It Take To Replace A Timing Belt?
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It’s essential that you have a properly working timing belt in order for your car to drive safely. If you have a malfunctioning timing belt, you and your passengers could be at risk on the road, and this problem should be fixed as soon as possible. How long it takes to replace a timing belt can differ based on a few different variables, but you’re not alone in figuring out how to navigate the process. Thankfully, CoPilot is here to help you out and get you on the path to fixing that timing belt!
Quick Answer: About 4 to 6 Hours
The harsh truth about how long it takes to replace a timing belt is that it’s a long, cumbersome process. Due to the intricacy involved in getting such an operation done, a typical timing belt replacement will usually take between 4 and 6 hours to complete. This might change depending on your car and your mechanic, but it’s a safe bet to expect the job to take quite a while.
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Why You Need a Working Timing Belt
Timing belts are absolutely crucial to the internal function of a car’s engine. They’re long rubber pieces that connect various pieces of the engine, allowing parts like the crankshaft and camshaft to cooperate and sync up with each other. From there, the engine is able to work properly because the pistons fire accordingly with the exhaust and intake valves. If they fall out of sync, the engine misfires, and driving suddenly becomes very dangerous.
You can’t neglect to replace your timing belt if it’s time. Unlike other mechanical parts of your car that might just break sporadically, timing belts have a specific window in which they need to be routinely replaced.
This is actually specified by your manufacturer in your car’s manual. Most rubber timing belts will need to be replaced anywhere between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, depending on your car and what the manufacturer recommends. Furthermore, not all cars have timing belts. Some have timing chains, which are made of metal and last longer, so check your owner’s manual to see what your car has. Either way, be sure to get your replacement taken care of as soon as your car hits the specified mileage so that you don’t risk engine failure.
Speaking of engine failure, let’s get into what can happen if you don’t quickly replace your timing belt. Given their importance in helping the engine work smoothly, total engine failure can occur if your timing belt malfunctions.
Symptoms of engine failure include loud grinding noises, the car shaking or shuddering, oil spilling from the car, low power when you try to accelerate, and the check engine light coming on, among other things. Basically, if anything seems fundamentally wrong with the operation of your car, your engine might be in trouble. You don’t want to let the problem get this bad, so make sure you know when to replace your timing belt and get it done!
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HowLong Will It Really Take to Replace Your Timing Belt?
As we’ve mentioned above, if you have any suspicion at all that your timing belt needs to be replaced soon (whether it’s due to manufacturer recommendation or a defect in the car’s operation), then you must get it replaced immediately. The bad news, though, is that this isn’t usually a quick procedure. Timing belt replacements are actually some of the most time-consuming part replacements that a car can get, often lasting between 4 and 6 hours. How long it takes to replace a timing belt can vary depending on the type of vehicle you have and the mechanic’s expertise, though, so try to spring for a well-trusted professional if you can. This will ensure that you receive higher quality work as well as faster work.
You do have to get your timing belt replaced when your manufacturer says to, but if you have a more modern car, you may be able to stretch out the time you can drive safely before replacement. In recent years, automobile manufacturers’ technology has improved to the point that timing belts have actually been phased out in certain types of vehicles. It’s now somewhat common to find that your car has a timing chain instead of a belt, meaning that it’s made of metal instead of rubber. Since timing chains are made of sturdier material, they tend to last several thousand miles longer, which is something to look forward to. It’s definitely wise to double-check what kind of timing device your car has when searching for replacement jobs.
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Should You Have Your Timing Belt Repaired Instead?
Now that you know how long it takes to replace a timing belt, it may seem tempting to try to have your timing belt repaired or even take care of the replacement yourself. Even so, we advise that you think twice before you make any big decisions to do so. We’ll talk about the problem with timing belt repairs first. For one, timing belts are temporary parts in the long term. When a timing belt expires, there really isn’t much that can be done to fix it up and get it fully functional again. This means that timing belt repairs are generally inadvisable. Car manufacturers themselves usually suggest that you have your timing belt (or chain) completely replaced, so that’s the safest option.
Next, let’s talk about performing a timing belt replacement at home yourself. Even though it might seem nice to save some money taking care of it alone, it should really be left in the hands of experts. Timing belts are incredibly technical pieces of equipment and are placed intricately into the engine. If you don’t know exactly what you’re doing and don’t have all the necessary tools, you can wind up doing more harm than good and compromising your engine. Therefore, we recommend taking your car to a local mechanic that you trust to ensure your timing belt replacement goes smoothly and that you can get back on the road in safety!
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