Jul. 24, 2024
Timing belts are essential to keep your car running. The timing belt connects to the crankshaft in your vehicle. This controls the pistons and valves. The timing belt is reinforced rubber with teeth on the inside of the belt that adjust to the opening and closing of these valves and pistons. They “keep time” essentially with the camshaft along with the crankshaft of the engine. These two components must work in complete harmony to avoid catastrophic and extensive damage.
The camshaft allows the pistons to move, letting in gasoline and a mixture of air in your vehicle. The crankshaft then moves the engine pistons up and down within the engine cylinders. These movements have to be precisely timed in order for your car’s engine to run correctly. The air and gas mixture must be injected into your car at precisely the correct time and in the correct amount. If this mixture is not introduced into the engine correctly, you will lose power to the engine.
Losing power can cause a loss of fuel economy, and also not allow your engine to run if the timing is off completely. Timing belts are essential to keep this process running in harmony. There is a high risk of engine damage if your timing belt is not working properly. In some cases, the belt can slip off entirely. This would not be a good situation for you when driving.
Timing belt replacements are one of the most commonly misunderstood services. The average life is around 60-100k miles. Depending on the make and model of your vehicle these times will change. Different manufacturers have specific years and mileage at which they advise a change. For instance, Toyota recommends that you replace the timing belt in a Camry every 60,000 miles. In a Ford Focus, it is recommended you change your belt every 60,000 to 90,000 miles.
The US Department of Transportation estimates that the average miles driven by an individual are around 13,500 miles. Based upon their estimate, a timing belt change would be required every 4.5 to 7.5 years. To highlight the differences in models for instance, the Volkswagen Jetta (Manual Transmission) allows you to keep your timing belt until 120,000 miles. Based upon all these factors we can safely assume that your timing belt will last on average for 60,000-105,000 miles. Or, will require a change every 8-10 years regardless of mileage.
When the timing belt starts to wear out, it may create a ticking sound inside the motor. This warning sign may also be an indication of low oil pressure or the engine not having the proper amount of lubrication. Listed below are a few common symptoms that might indicate that your timing belt is wearing out or has broken – which will require a local ASE certified mechanic to replace the timing belt and inspect other internal engine components for damage.
Not all engines have a timing belt. They are more commonly found in cars and SUV’s with smaller engines. These engines are called displacement engines. The larger engines with a larger bore utilize a timing chain. As the belt begins to wear out or get old there are a few signs and symptoms that you should be aware of. Being aware of these can help you to avoid costly repairs down the road. Remember that your timing belt must be changed by a certified ASE mechanic in order to ensure that it is replaced correctly and to check the rest of the engine components for internal damage if the vehicle has had the problem a while.
As the timing belt begins to wear out you will hear a ticking sound coming from the engine. While this ticking is usually a sign of and old or worn out belt it can also be attributed to low oil pressure or other lubricants. If you notice a ticking noise coming from your engine and all of your fluids are at the correct level, chances are the belt is the issue.
When the timing belt is broken you will not even be able to start your vehicle. You may hear a clicking sound when you turn the key but the engine will not fire. This clicking is coming from the starter motor. But when the belt is broken it won’t allow the crankshaft and the camshaft to operate. There are many times that you won’t even know that the timing belt has broken because in many cases the belt fails while driving. This is why it is important to have a mechanic change the belt. He/She can check for further internal damage that was bound to happen while driving. A mechanic at G&G will know how to inspect the more internal components of the vehicle.
If the nuts and bolts that secure the timing belt cover begin to loosen oil begins to seep out and onto the belt. This over time will deteriorate the rubber on the belt. Common overheating occurs when these bolts are loose and can cause premature wearing of the belt. The gasket that is between the cover and the engine block wears out over time and it’s a good idea to have these areas checked periodically.
Worn out timing belts will affect the engine’s fire rate. When the belt has slipped off the camshaft drive, for instance, it will cause the cylinder to open and close earlier than it should. This causes the engine to misfire. When an engine misfires you will hear a loud popping sound. Commonly referred to as a backfire. Backfiring occurs when unburned fuel is expelled out of the cylinder on the exhaust stroke and is ignited deeper in the system than it should. If you notice your car backfiring, get your vehicle in for service as soon as possible.
This is not an inexpensive maintenance service. Typical timing belt replacements will run you around $500-$900 in parts and labor. However, as we have stated above if your belt has failed while driving the chances are that repairs will run you upwards of $2000-$2500 in some cases. This is because when a timing belt fails while driving it can cause damage to valves and pistons as well as the water pump. So, be vigilant to change belts per manufacturer’s recommendations. Like we always say: “Routine maintenance is always cheaper than repairs”
DRIVE SAFE, DRIVE SMART
When our auto repair shop specialists get an urgent call for help, it is usually something very serious. In most cases, a car suddenly stops in the middle of the road, and the driver has no idea why. However, after a discussion with the driver, we found out that they noticed something not quite right, but did not pay attention. In fact, they noticed bad timing chain symptoms in the tensioner or other parts of this critical component of the car.
The fact is that without the BMW timing chain working properly, your prized vehicle is not safe to drive. If it happens to fail while you are driving, you are in great danger. Your car will stop in the middle of oncoming traffic, and you risk getting hit before you can safely get out of the car and walk to the side of the road.
Since this is such a serious problem and it is still a big unknown to many car owners, this article will explain to you what you must know about timing chain failure symptoms before it gets broken completely.
But before we talk about timing chain problems, let us explain what exactly this component is. The timing chain is the engine part that coordinates the opening and closing of the valves inside a combustion engine. By syncing the camshaft and crankshaft to open and close these valves, the timing chain ensures that the engine pistons do not hit the valves.
Thus, when you have a bad timing chain, the crank no longer performs the syncing of the valve opening and closing. The entire combustion process stops, and the driver can no longer operate the car.
Now that you know the role of a timing chain, let us discuss the two types of chains used by car producers. For each type of chain, there are different timing chain failure causes resulting from the specific build of the component.
This type of timing chain is made of precision links made of flat hardened alloy steel. They are connected to each other by pressed pins. This is also known as a silent chain because its shape is designed for smooth operation. We mention this because if you happen to hear noises, then you definitely have timing chain issues.
This type of chain looks very much like the one you find on a bicycle. But, of course, it is made much more durable and resilient. Cars with a smaller engine capacity have a single roller chain. More powerful engines require a double chain.
As we are speaking of timing chain symptoms, do not confuse it with a timing belt. While it serves the same purpose, it is a completely different component and has specific signs of failure.
We now know how the device looks. But how does a timing chain work? It runs continuously on sprockets in a circle like a conveyor belt. Its movement is set with great precision to achieve the syncing of the opening and closing of the valves. This translates into a high level of wear and tear, and this is what causes a timing chain to break.
Before we discuss the signs of the bad timing chain, here’s how to be proactive about spotting a problem.
How to Check for a Bad Timing Chain?
Before you notice timing chain tensioner failure or experience a broken chain, here’s how to tell if the timing chain is bad:
Do you have a loose timing chain due to a stretch or a too-tight tensioner? There are several symptoms of a bad timing chain to look and listen for. Doing so will prevent getting stuck in the middle of the road with no possibility of moving your car out of the way of oncoming traffic. So, let us detail the most important loose timing chain symptoms and timing chain tensioner being too tight.
The constant movement through guides and hubs leads to a bad timing chain that gets stretched too much. You will notice an increase in fuel consumption and reduced power at low speeds. You will also hear a rattling sound when you pop up the hood. The noise varies as you change speeds.
What does a bad timing chain sound like if you have this problem? You will experience the same symptoms as in the case of a stretched chain, plus a whirring sound that gets louder as you increase the car speed.
Do not ignore these bad timing chain tensioner symptoms, especially if a recall was issued for your BMW model.
In time, the timing chain guides will get damaged due to wear and tear. If this is the case, you will hear a clattering or rattling sound, especially when you are driving at low speeds.
The signs of a bad timing chain are unmistakable in this case. You will hear a loud grinding noise as the chain jumps, and then the engine will stop running.
Just as in the situation presented above, the engine will stop running. However, a broken timing chain will also cause extensive damage to the engine.
Whenever the check engine light is on, there is a problem with the engine, and you must not ignore it. This light will also come on in case of a bad timing chain.
All these bad timing chain symptoms make you wonder: why does this critical part break? Do timing chains need to be replaced? The answer to the second question is yes. To the first question, the possible causes are:
BW Performance is a team of specialists who are truly passionate about European cars. We know how to tell if the timing chain is bad and what to do about it. And we will offer you a fair BMW timing chain replacement cost, together with the guarantee of excellent workmanship.
As we explained in this article, there is no good answer to how long can you drive with a bad timing chain. You should not plan any other journey before our auto repair technicians look at your engine and fix or replace the timing chain. If the chain fails in the middle of a busy expressway, your life may be at risk.
If you suspect BMW timing chain problems, don’t wait any longer but bring your prized vehicle to us. We are here for all European car owners in:
Call us to schedule an appointment: 303-800-7193!
If you are wondering how long will a stretched timing chain last, the answer is no time at all. At any moment the chain may break, the engine will stop, and you will be unable to operate the car
There are three major signs of a bad timing chain:
On average, you should come to our auto repair shop for timing chain replacement after each 80,000 – 120,000 miles driven. However, you must bring your car for an inspection if you notice any of the symptoms of the bad timing chain described above. The cost to replace it on time is nothing compared to the risk of a car crash if it fails.
One of the loose timing chain symptoms is a rattling noise. If you hear a clattering noise, then you should pull over as soon as possible because the chain is about to break or jump from the idler or tensioner.
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