As you can see, the path that the timing belt must travel is a perilous one, to
say the least. Therefore, it is extremely important to check the condition of this
important and vulnerable part of your automobile. The bottom line? If you car
has a timing belt, check it every 25,000 miles and replace every 50,000 miles,
unless specified otherwise in the maintenance schedule.
Telltale signs of a failing belt are cracks, cuts, worn or broken teeth, as well as
deterioration from wear, exposure to harmful fluids, and high temperatures. A
worn timing belt can affect engine performance. If the belt’s teeth are gone, the
valve timing can be thrown off, either in excessive advancement or retardation,
which results in poor engine performance.
When speaking of engines timed with a timing belt there are two types:
interference and non-interference. When the timing belt breaks on interference
type engines, the pistons collide with the valves, hence the term interference.
When this collision occurs, it’s usually at highway speed and the result is major
engine damage, usually so major that engine replacement is necessary. On non-
interference engines, the valves do not collide with the pistons; the engine
simply shuts down. Replace the timing belt and you’re off to the races again.
The average cost of timing belt replacement is $300. The average cost of engine
replacement is $3,000 to $4,000. Your choice.
Hoses
The cooling system hoses make up the infrastructure through which coolant
flows through the engine, radiator, and heater core. They are subject to extreme
heat-up and cool-down. When the engine heats up due to heavy work or a
malfunction, the hoses are stretched to their limits. Over time the chemical
makeup of the coolant and the adverse effects of high temps degrade the rubber.
The hoses become soft, weak, and sometimes brittle. If you stress the engine or
overwork it just one time with the hoses in poor condition, there’s a good chance
they will burst, leaving you stranded. The best way to check hoses is to squeeze
them. If they are resilient and rebound when squeezed, then they are okay. If
they are too soft or brittle to the touch, they need to be replaced.