Timing belts and timing chains have been around in car engines for decades. The biggest drawback of the timing belt is its limitations as time goes by. Timing belts wear down and the rubber stresses and dries out. If you don’t know much about vehicles, chances are you don’t know when your timing belt needs to be replaced. You also may not know the mileage levels at which to consider timing belt replacement. The professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center are here to help with Philadelphia timing belt replacement and other maintenance items. We’ll help you determine when replacement is necessary (generally around 60,000 miles) and the best course of action for your vehicle and your budget.
Potential Dangers of Ignoring Replacement
The timing belt is an integral part of any vehicle. If you don’t replace them at the right time, they can lead to dangers and other problems with higher costs. Here are a few to consider.
Engine Damage
Timing belts allow the valves to hit the pistons at the right time. If the belt isn’t under normal operating conditions or breaks and jumps off gears, the valves could strike a cylinder and cause severe and costly damage to the engine. If you are running your vehicle over the recommended mileage change for timing belt replacement, you may be on borrowed time. Timing belt replacement is much cheaper than fixing, rebuilding, or replacing an engine because of damage that is caused due to a worn out timing belt.
Hard to Find Parts
Timing belt replacement is a preventative maintenance measure that you can utilize to avoid other issues, but car owners often ignore it. In fact, it’s so prevalent that many car manufacturers and engine parts makers don’t stock engine components for timing belts after 5-7 years because there will only be a handful of those vehicles still on the road. It can be hard to find crankshafts, pistons, connecting rods and other items for older engines because manufacturers don’t find it economic to create those parts. It is in your best interest to avoid having to find those hard-to-find parts by having timing belt replacement done in Philadelphia at the right intervals.
Contact the Right Shop for Help
Timing belt replacement can be difficult for those who don’t know what they are doing and it requires special tools that only skilled technicians have. It might cost you labor to have a professional do the job, but that will still cost less than engine damage that avoiding the issue can cause. If you need Philadelphia timing belt replacement, or you want a technician to tell you when the time is right for the replacement, contact Schafer’s Auto Center at 215-755-1270. We’ll never tell you that you need to do something on your vehicle just because. We take pride in honest, quality work. Our shop is located at 1924 S Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19148 and we’re here to help with your vehicle’s maintenance needs.
