Protect your engine components. To replace your cam belt,
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Cam belts control the timing of your engine, allowing it to keep turning smoothly. On average, cam or timing belts should be replaced every 60,000 miles or every 5 years - your owner's manual can give you more specific recommendations for your model, or you can ask us for advice.
Often overlooked during routine maintenance, cam belts are a priority for us. If your cam belt fails, your engine will cut and you'll coast to a stop, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. And that's the best case scenario - failing cam belts can cause severe and expensive damage to your engine.
When replacing the cam belt, we usually have to remove the engine drive belt at the same time. It's a good idea to replace this belt, and any others in your engine, at the same time, to save on time and service fees.
Cam belts (chains in some cars or vans) are bands of rubber reinforced with nylon, typically having square teeth on the inside surface. The belt transfers the rotation of the crankshaft to the camshaft, activating the engine's valves. Ultimately the cam belt's job is to regulate the provision of air and fuel to the cylinders and get rid of exhaust gases.
In some engines, there isn't much clearance between valves and pistons, and these fast-moving parts are in danger of colliding if their movement isn't properly synchronised. That's why the cam belt is so important; if it didn't exist, or if it failed, you would end up with damaged valves, pistons, cylinder walls and cylinder heads. And those are much more expensive to replace than a cam belt.
