Cars are practically essential elements in daily life. These are machines that have made our lives much easier as they allow us to move quickly and comfortably from one place to another. Virtually every family in the country has at least one car.
The motor industry has developed enormously in recent years, which is why we can increasingly get higher quality cars at a lower price. However, despite the high quality of all the cars on the market, it is true that we need to carry out some maintenance and repair work. One of these maintenance jobs that we have to carry out once every several years is to change the car’s timing belt. As with many other mechanical tasks, many people wonder why it is necessary and how to change the car’s timing belt. Regarding the first of the questions, it should be clarified that, as with all machines, cars need to change some of their parts over the years, since over time and constant use these parts deteriorate. Regarding the second question, how to change the car’s timing belt, you should know that it is much easier than it might seem at first.
If you want to take care of changing the car’s timing belt and you are not sure how to do it, you should not worry because you have come to the right place. Throughout this article we will explain step by step everything you need to know and do to change the car’s timing belt and ensure that your car is maintained correctly. Pay close attention and don’t miss the smallest detail!
What do you need to change the car’s timing belt?
- A new timing belt
- Gaskets and adhesives
- Tools
Instructions to change the timing belt of the car
- The first thing you should do is make sure that your car needs to have its belt changed. There is no exact calculation of when you have to do this, but most mechanics advise that this change be done when the car has traveled about 140,000 or about 190,000 kilometers. This depends on each car model. If you are not sure when you should change the belt of your car, take a look at the manual.
- The second logical step is to buy a new strap before you start tinkering with the old one. You should also make sure that you have the necessary gaskets and adhesives to fix the strap and if not, you should also buy them.
- Once you have all the necessary material, begin to disassemble the timing belt. To do this you must disconnect the battery by removing the negative cable. Next you will remove the alternator belt and you will gradually disassemble the belt.
- Then you must loosen the tensioner.
- Finally you must install the new timing belt in the car. As soon as you have placed the strap, you should begin to assemble everything that you have been disassembling in the previous steps. Follow the reverse order that you have done so far and make sure that everything is very well fixed and secured.
Tips to change the timing belt of the car
- If you don’t think you can change the car’s timing belt yourself, you shouldn’t try. Keep in mind that poorly done maintenance work can be just as, or even more, harmful than not taking care of your car. Therefore, the smartest option is to go to a mechanical workshop where the work is carried out by a professional. This way you can make sure that the change has been made correctly. You should also take the opportunity to carry out a general examination of the condition of your car and make sure that everything is going well.
- Remember that the price for changing a broken strap is much higher than replacing one with another. In addition, the breakage of the belt can create another series of breakdowns in the car. Therefore, it is convenient that you decide to change the timing belt of the car every so often to make sure that it does not break.
