AUTO BELT IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI

As if you didn’t have enough maintenance to worry about for your car, now you need to have the timing belt replaced regularly. That’s a really big job for something the manufacturer considers “maintenance.”

But what exactly is a timing belt?

The timing belt is a device that connects your engine’s crankshaft and camshaft, to keep them properly synchronized with one another. A degree off one way or the other, and your car’s engine could lose power, waste gas, and suffer general performance problems.

And, if the timing belt breaks, it’ll leave you stranded. Worse, still, on some engines it can allow the pistons in the engine to hit the valves, causing additional internal engine damage.

So there’s little doubt that replacing the timing belt occasionally is a valuable maintenance service.

The timing belt itself is a fairly inexpensive item. But a couple things turn replacing it into a fairly big job. For one, the timing belt sits behind the front of the engine. On most cars, a lot of things have to be removed to get access to it.

In addition, many of those items that have to be removed are also normal-wear items, such as fan belts and the water pump. So it just makes sense to change them all at the same time, since you’ll only pay for the labor once.

The technicians at Grand Rapids, MI Cottman are very familiar with the ins and outs of timing belt replacement. They know what components are in the way, and they can recommend exactly which additional items to replace to save you the most money, while providing you with the dependability you expect from your car.

If you have any questions about your car’s timing belt, or would like to schedule an appointment to have it checked or replaced, call Grand Rapids, MI Cottman at 616-682-7286. Don’t wait; do it today!