Tag: "timing belt"

Timing Belt Service to Save Big Bucks in Wilmington

Your engine is like a finely choreographed dance. All the parts have to work together. If the timing is off at the ballet, dancers crash into each other and fall down. It the timing is off in your engine, it may not run at all. One of the most intricate dances in your engine, has to do with the combustion cycle.

Your sedan engine has cylinders in which a piston travels up and down. At the top of the cylinders are valves open to bring in the air and fuel. And there are valves that open to let out the exhaust after the fuel has been burned.

Call Buckley’s Auto Care at 302-999-8285 for answers about your timing belt, or drop by our Wilmington Delaware service center on 1604 E. Newport Pike, 19804

It’s critical that the values be timed to open and close at precisely the right time in the combustion cycle, or the engine will run poorly or not at all.

The timing belt is responsible for rotating the shafts that control the valves. It’s vital and precision work. Timing belts are made of very tough flexible material. They can last a long time. But they eventually wear out and can break. The consequences can be disastrous.

In some engines, the valves actually protrude far enough into the cylinders that they could come in contact with the piston. If the timing belt breaks, the pistons will smash into the valves. Valves get bend or broken. If the engine is spinning fast enough, the broken parts will shred the cylinder head as well. Repairing this damage can cost several thousand dollars.

It’s a sad day when this happens; especially since it usually can be avoided. Manufacturers have issued recommendations for when you should replace your timing belt. For some engines, it’s at 60,000 miles. For others it’s at 90,000 miles or more. If you’re approaching 60,000 miles, or have passed it, make sure you check your owner’s manual or with your Wilmington Delaware auto service advisor at Buckley’s Auto Care for when the timing belt should be replaced. Don’t let this one slip by.

Now some timing belts are visible and can be inspected. Others are hidden under a protective cover and are hard to get to. Some timing belts also drive the water pump. If you have a leaky water pump, the coolant will contaminate the timing belt and could make it fail sooner. So if you have this kind of engine, get it in to Buckley’s Auto Care for an inspection right away if you have a coolant leak.

Most people in the Wilmington area with this engine design end up with a new timing belt when they replace the water pump. And when you’re having your timing belt replaced on schedule, check with your Wilmington Delaware auto service advisor at Buckley’s Auto Care to see if it makes sense to install a new water pump, even if it isn’t currently having problems, since most of the labor is already being done any way for the timing belt replacement.

As a heads up; larger engines will often have metal timing chains rather than belts. The chains don’t need to be replaced like belts.

We’ve already told you how very expensive it can be to get your car running again after a timing belt fails. You also need to know that replacing the timing belt is very labor intensive and is one of the most costly maintenance services you will have. So if you will be at the point where your timing belt should be replaced in the next year or so, ask for an estimate from Buckley’s Auto Care in Wilmington Delaware so you can begin to prepare for the expense.

We at AutoNetTV are committed to helping you make your driving experience as safe and economical as possible. Buckley’s Auto Care, your Wilmington service center, can be a valuable partner. Please take advantage of their knowledge and experience, and check out http://AutoNetTV.com for more great auto tips.

Nov 16, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post
When A Timing Belt Snaps In A VW Jetta

When A Timing Belt Snaps In A VW Jetta

Here is video clip from right inside our service bays at Buckley’s Auto Care http://www.buckleysautocare.com. This clip shows the incredible damage done when a timing belt snaps in an interference motor. This happens to be a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta with a 1.8 Turbo. As you can see, the valves are severely bent and the inside of each cylinder is scarred. In addition to the engine damage, take a look at the coolant residue from all of the plastic plumbing VW uses. Of course, this engine will have to be replaced.

It’s never easy telling someone that a huge cost is coming their way. A scenario like this could have been avoided if they had followed the recommended schedules set forth by the manufacture. But the damage is done and now we have to discuss re-investment back into the Jetta. Fortunately, this unit is in great shape (sans motor) and makes a nice candidate for putting the time and money back into it.

Of course, we have to update all of the radiator hoses, the serpentine belts, the thermostat and all gaskets. Once it’s all completed, this 2003 VW Jetta should be as good as new again and traveling up and down the Delaware highways.

May 12, 2011 | 0 comments | View Post
Timing Belt Replacement in Wilmington

Timing Belt Replacement in Wilmington

timng beltToday we want to talk about timing belts. They’re something that many Wilmington drivers don’t know much about and yet your vehicle won’t run if it’s broken – and it could cause many thousands of dollars damage if it does break. A broken timing belt is usually a tale of woe. Even though timing belt replacement is scheduled in the owner’s manual, it’s not the kind of thing that most Wilmington car owners remember because it’s not well understood.

Let’s review what a timing belt does. As you know, the engine’s power is generated in the cylinders. A piston rides up and down in the cylinder. During the first down stroke, an intake valve at the top of the cylinder opens and air and fuel is drawn into the cylinder. Then the piston returns to the top, compressing the fuel and air mix. At the top, the spark plug fires, igniting the fuel pushing the piston down in the power stroke. As the piston once again returns up in the final stroke of the cycle, an exhaust valve opens at the top of the cylinder and the exhaust is pushed out. The timing belt is what coordinates the opening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves. It’s called a timing belt because the valves have to open and close at just the right time.

Now, not all New Castle and Newport vehicles have timing belts. Some have timing chains. Like the name implies, they use a chain rather than a belt to perform the function. It used to be that most engines used timing chains, which are extremely durable. Manufacturers started using belts rather than chains to save money in the manufacturing process. So now we’re left with a component that can break. They sort of shifted the problem to us. There are two broad categories of engine design: interference and non-interference. If the timing belt on a non-interference engine breaks, the engine simply stops running. That could be very dangerous depending on where you are at the time, but it causes no internal engine damage.

Interference engines, on the other hand, will get real messed up when the timing belt breaks, because the valves will actually fall down into the path of the pistons. Things get chewed up when that happens and it’ll cost thousands to repair the engine.

So, what are the warning signs? Unfortunately, there really aren’t any. There aren’t tell-tale sounds. In some vehicles, a technician from Buckley’s Auto Care may be able to see part of the belt for a visual inspection, but many have a cover that’s in the way. The reality is that if the belt slips even one notch, it might as well be broken for all the damage it’ll cause. There’s no middle ground.

So how can we avoid these problems? Simply replace the timing belt when your owner’s manual calls for it. It can be 60,000 miles; it might be 90,000 or 100,000 miles. The point is, if you have 60,000 or more miles, ask your Buckley’s Auto Care service advisor right away if your manufacturer requires a timing belt replacement.

Contact Buckley’s Auto Care to learn more about your car’s Timing Belt
You can find us at:
1604 E. Newport Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19804
Or call us at 302-999-8285

Sometimes you can go quite a while without a failure, but we’ve seen them happen within a couple of oil changes of being due. It’s not worth the risk.

What does it cost to replace a timing belt in Newport or Hockessin? Well, that really depends on what kind of car you have. I can tell you that it’s usually not very easy to get to the timing belt – you often have to remove some accessories to get at it. It isn’t a cheap procedure, but it’s a fraction of what it could cost to repair the damage caused by a failure.

At Buckley’s Auto Care we’re all about trying to prevent costly repairs, keeping you and your passengers safe and increasing your driving enjoyment. Thanks to AutoNetTV for their great auto video tips.

Dec 14, 2010 | 0 comments | View Post
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