Five Signs of Wear on the Timing Belt

There are five signs that your timing belt sends to indicate it is worn and should not be ignored: let's see what they are. Before inspecting, remove the timing belt cover, although sometimes it may be necessary to remove some engine components. 1) If the timing belt is too tight, it may skip some gears, causing timing to be lost: the engine will run unevenly, there will be starting difficulties, loss of power, and increased fuel consumption. Check the timing markings and ensure the tensioner is at the correct tension. 2) Leaks under the timing belt cover indicate that technical fluids have deposited on the belt, which may slip or break. Check all seals before replacing the belt. 3) Strange noises come from the belt, occurring if the belt is very worn, misaligned, or if the bearing is stuck. The noise directly depends on the engine's RPM. 4) Damaged belt with fraying, cracking, tooth wear, or fibre breakage. It must be replaced even if only the edge is worn. Check the timing mechanism, and if necessary, install new components. 5) Incorrect belt position. This is indicated by the axial movement of the belt relative to the pulley. The cause may be a poorly installed component or a failure of the tensioner pulley. An incorrect belt position causes uneven wear and breakage. The belt replacement is usually done at 50,000 to 100,000 miles or every 5 years, depending on which condition occurs first.