Cambelt (or Timing Belts)

Technical stuff first – what is it? (If your eyes start to glaze over, skip to the second paragraph down)

The cam belt is a part of an internal combustion engine that controls the timing of the engine’s valves. It connects the crankshaft to the camshaft(s), which in turn controls the opening and closing of the engine’s valves. A four-stroke engine requires that the valves open and close once every other revolution of the crankshaft. The timing belt/chain does this. It has teeth to turn the camshaft synchronised with the crankshaft, and is specifically designed for a particular engine. In some engine designs, the timing belt may also be used to drive other engine components such as the water pump and oil pump (internal combustion engine).

In other words, the cam belt is essential to the running of your engine. It must be replaced according to your vehicle manufacturer’s specifications which is generally every 100,000km – but if you’re not sure, give us a call and we’ll be able to tell you.

What happens if you don’t replace it?

Failure to replace the cam belt can result in complete engine failure.