My mechanic says I should change my car's cam belt. How important is this? The estimate that I was given seems quite expensive, considering that the car is running perfectly OK at the moment. Replacing the cam belt is an 80,000km service item, and is one that is best not avoided.

This would depend on your car's specifications (check your owner's manual) but, in most cases, every 60,000 miles or five years, whichever comes first.

Many of the cars on the road today have timing belts. Like a fan belt, a timing belt should be replaced before it breaks. The timing belt needs to be replaced every 50,000-90,000 miles on most cars, but the exact time interval depends on the make and model of your car. If you were to wait too long and your belt breaks while you are driving down the road, your engine valve train loses its coordination. This can have horrible results.

The number one thing you need to replace while the timing belt is being replaced is the belt tensor and the water pump. If either of these two go bad after the timing belt is replace you will have to pay for the labor again. So if they (the tech) are already in there have them replaced. It has been noted that the 3.2 and the 3.5L 98-04 engines are non-interference. One owner noted that after he had his timing belt replaced at local shop, but when he drove it home the engine ran very rough.

The self-tensioner on '87 and later 944, S, Turbo and S2 allows accurate tensioning of the timing belt without tool P9201. The assembly achieves this by means of a spring whose preload is fixed to create the proper tension while the engine is cold. Loosening the correct bolts frees the spring up to do this task before retightening. The entire job is done from above the engine. You gain access to the belts by removing various things depending on which 944 variant you have.

YES. The failure of a timing belt in many cars can result in major engine damage. The cost of repairing an engine with a broken timing belt is much greater than the cost of a timing belt replacement.

When we open up the timing belt cover, the timing belt may appear to be in good condition. However, the timing belt's job is to keep moving parts, primarily valves and pistons, in time with one another. If the timing belt is not replaced in a timely manner, it will eventually break, leaving you stranded at best or, worse, may cause engine damage which can be extremely costly to repair.

The timing belt should be renewed every 60k miles. It is also highly advisable to replace the water pump and belt tensioner at the same time. It is very important, as most Audi engines are of interference type.

Worn-out seals: grease escapes from roller bearings and contaminates belt. Bearings on which tensioners/idlers are built are not visible, but may be at the end of their lifetime. As belt manufacturer, we recommend change of all components at the same time to avoid any premature belt failure due to the malfunction of other related components. The better solution is the alternative of using the Gates Original PowerGrip? timing belt component kit.

Yes, these are great for your peace of mind, safety and security. You don't go on a vacation to worry about pick pockets, so play it smart & safe- buy a money belt! Keep your tickets, passport, any credit cards and extra cash in the money belt. Meanwhile, in your wallet is the cash for the day. Travel worry free and secure, invest in a money belt! Money belts are worn under your shirt/dress, and are a safer alternative to a bumbag or "fanny pack" as the North Americans call them. Back to top

A car is not a requirement for certain workshops if you are staying at the Workshops campus. While these participants do not necessarily need a car, a car provides added freedom and flexibility. If you do not rent a car, you will need to car pool with other workshop participants when you go on field trips. Please call to find out if a car is required for your workshop. If you are not staying on campus, you really need to have a car. Santa Fe is not readily accessible by city bus or taxi.

We recommend that you change the vacuum belt at least every 6 months to prevent strain on your motor and to keep the brush spinning at optimum efficiency. As with changing the bags, the time span depends on usage. To purchase a new pack of three please visit the 'Upright Accessories' page. For a guide on how to replace a motor belt please see the guides available on the servicing page

The engine stops running. If the cam drive fails, the camshaft stops turning, the valves stop opening, and the engine stops breathing. The engine will stop and will not run because it has no compression. A timing belt or chain failure can cause expensive damage in ?interference? engines that don?t have enough clearance to prevent the valves from hitting the pistons if the cam stops turning or jumps out of time.

Based on our experiences in the field, the belt is likely to have been over-tensioned during installation. The belt may not be tensioned to the tension level recommended by the OEM service manual. If noise continues after retensioning, drive back to the workshop for diagnosis.

Your Nissan’s engine may be equipped with either a steel timing chain or a synthetic rubber timing belt-check your owner’s manual to be sure. The timing chain is maintenance-free. The timing belt, however, is prone to wear and deterioration as the vehicle ages. Because the timing belt is under a protective cover, it is impossible to perform a visual inspection to determine its condition.

valves and pistons will not collide requires that the compression ratio of the engine be reduced significantly; this is why you are more likely to avoid valve damage in economy cars than in performance oriented vehicles.

You don't, it's fixed. The small screw under the ignition back plate locates in a dimple in the upper crankcase, that's it.

No, there are a lot of things in Columbia within walking distance. There is a bus service that generally goes to all major areas. Or you can always have a friend with a car give you a ride.

Well, as I mentioned in my Nitrous Basics article this topic is always under debate. Just remember the rule of thumb, which is to retard timing 2 degrees for each 50 shot of nitrous. The best thing to do is to get a MSD Digital 6 ignition or a Jacobs Nitrous Mastermind with a lower level ignition (*will not work with ZEX*). Both of these products will automatically retard your timing only when they sense boost, otherwise you get to keep you normal timing.