Gates suggests changing the timing belt at 60,000 miles. Belts may fail sooner, or last longer, depending on a variety of factors including driving and temperature conditions. Index by Manufacturer. Gates PowerGrip Timing Belt Replacement Recommendations.
- Includes timing guide gap tool which is very helpful as that was one of the. Keep in mind you will need to replace your V-Belts with the timing belt change.
- Gates Timing Belts. Gates Racing Timing Belt 1994-2001 Acura Integra 4-Cylinder 1.8 L VTEC. Gates Timing Belt Replacement Manual.
When does the timing belt need to be replaced When does the timing belt need to be replaced A timing belt runs the engine camshaft (or camshafts in a dual-cam engine). It's called timing belt because its main job is to precisely time valve opening and closing with up-and-down movement of the pistons. Timing belt replacement is one of the high-price maintenance items that many motorists have to deal with. How often does the timing belt need to be replaced? Timing belt recommended replacement intervals vary from 60,000 to 106,000 miles. You can find the recommended interval in your car's maintenance schedule. We posted several links where you can check the maintenance schedule online at the bottom of this.
Can a timing belt last past the recommended interval? Yes, in some cases.
We came across a number of high-mileage cars with a timing belt that has never been changed. In fact, as we worked on this article, we discussed the Toyota Highlander belonging to one of our colleagues. It had almost 200K miles and the timing belt has never been changed. 'I'll just keep checking the belt condition, it still looks OK' – was the owner's response.
On the other hand, there are many cases when a timing belt breaks at a lower mileage than the recommended interval. Usually, premature timing belt failure is caused by faulty belt hardware (tensioner and idlers), leaking water pumps, improper tension and when a timing belt is soaked in engine oil. How can you tell if the belt is in good shape or needs to be replaced as soon as possible?
Can a timing belt condition be inspected? The answer is yes. Can you see the timing belt under the hood? No, a timing belt is usually covered by plastic or metal covers.
Your mechanic can remove one of the covers and visually assess the condition of the timing belt. For example, this timing belt in the next photo belongs to the Acura TL with 52,000 miles. The owner wanted to check the timing belt condition before going on a long road trip.
Timing Belt Replacement Guide
According to the mechanic, this belt is in a good shape and can last for a while longer. The timing belt in the photo below belongs to a Toyota Celica with 150,000 miles.
The engine was still running fine, but upon the inspection, the mechanic found that the timing belt is in poor shape (you can see many cracks). The owner rightfully decided to have it replaced. What happens if a timing belt breaks? There are two types of engines: an interference and non-interference. In an interference engine, if a timing belt breaks while driving, there is a good chance that the engine might be severely damaged.
A non-interference engine will stall if a timing belt breaks, but further damage might be limited. The difference is that in an interference engine, valves that are fully open will be hit by the piston as it travels to its top position.
In a non-interference engine, there is still some clearance between fully open valves and a piston in the top position. How to know if your engine is an interference engine? Here is the link to, courtesy of Gates corporation. In this guide, the interference engines are marked with the star sign. Another reason to replace the old timing belt is that over time it stretches. As a result, the engine timing might become too retarded (delayed).
Gates Timing Belt Kit
Symptoms of a retarded engine timing include lack of power and slow pick-up. In some cars, a stretched timing belt can also produce a dull rattling noise coming from the timing belt area. Usually the noise is noticeable at idle, but disappears when the engine is revved.
How much does the timing belt replacement cost? It depends on the engine. Timing belt replacement in a 4-cylinder engine may cost from $250 to $600, plus a little extra if you want to replace the water pump and other hardware. In a V6 or V8 engine, the timing belt replacement cost can run from $380 to $780. Is it necessary to replace a water pump, as well as timing belt tensioner and other hardware along with the belt? It's not necessary, however, it's usually recommended, because very little extra labor is involved in replacement of additional parts.
Water pumps do wear over time, so it might make sense to replace the water pump along with the belt. Do all cars have a timing belt? The answer is no, many modern cars have a timing chain instead.
A timing chain is a maintenance-free unit and rarely need replacement. Read more: How to know if a car has a timing chain or belt? First, you can check your maintenance schedule or call your dealer. Another option is to ask your mechanic during your next oil change. Some car manufacturers publish the list of models that have a timing belt online; for example, here is the Toyota list: The Gates Timing Belt Replacement Interval Guide we mentioned before has a list of cars that have a timing belt. Of course, you can always google: '2007 Honda Accord V6 timing belt or chain?'
Hope the service manuals are up to expectations. So Im guessing if certain parts like gearboxes/engines etc are designed/tested/built in other countries etc, and also with the export of the commodore, then its not outrageous to think that America/other countries somehow gain access of workshop manuals and can get them onto disc. I just received the Pontiac G8 manual as well. 2010 ve commodore workshop manual. Seems really good for my MY09 SV6, except it does not cover the Aisin AY6 manual gearbox.
Is it difficult to replace a timing belt as a DIY project? If you have the tools and the skills, it's not that difficult. In a small 4-cylinder engine, for example, in Toyota Tercel, it can be done within two hours. The hard part is usually the removal of the harmonic balancer (main engine pulley) as the bolt holding it is very tight and sometimes you might need a special puller to take the pulley out. Another difficult task is to set the timing properly and adjust the belt tension when the new belt is installed.
For this you might need the factory service manual.
Timing Belt Identification and Replacement The first step in identifying which timing belt that you have is to look for identifying numbers and/or letters marked on the timing belt. These numbers indicate a standard trade size and will help in identifying the specifics of the cog belt. Also, by being able to identify the manufacturer and/or trade name on the timing belt will assist in the identification process. Common synchronous belt manufacturers include: Bando Brecoflex Carlisle Power Transmission Products Continental ContiTech Elatech F.N.
Shephard, Co. Forbo Siegling Gates Goodyear Engineered Products (Veyance) Habasit Jason Mectrol (Gates) Megadyne Mitsuboshi Belting, Ltd. Optibelt Power Transmission U.S.A. Secondly, if there is no trade size indicated on the timing belt do the following:. Measure the width of the timing belt. Note the construction of the timing belt.
Rubber construction is extremely flexible while a polyurethane construction is plastic like and has little flexibility. Measure the pitch (see diagram). This is the distance in millimeters (mm) and/or inches between the center of the crown of one tooth and the center of the crown of the tooth adjacent to it.