Timing Belt Service in Phoenix | Car Maintenance

Timing Belt Service

Just In A Nic Of Timing Belt

Regardless of the type of car people drive, they eventually require assistance with timing belt repair. Mesa, AZ residents are in luck because Accurate Automotive not only offers the best timing belt services, but also the best service and prices as well. Because changing the timing belt on an automobile is so critically important, it pays to understand the basics when it comes to this piece of maintenance. In this article, we will discuss 1) When to change a timing belt; 2) Why individuals should change their timing belt; and 3) What changing the timing belt will do for a car. By gaining a better understanding of timing belt repair, Mesa AZ residents will have one more tool to preserve the lives of their automobiles.

1) When to change a timing belt.

Timing belts should be changed at different times, depending upon the make and model of the automobile in question. Generally speaking, most cars need to have their timing belts changed between 60,000 and 100,000 miles. The important thing, however, is that timing belts are indeed changed when they are supposed to be changed. It is important for individuals to have a technician that they trust who can tell them at how many miles their car’s timing belt should be changed. Because timing belt repair is one of the more costly pieces of maintenance, most individuals prefer not to have it done unnecessarily or too preemptively. Accurate Automotive technicians are notorious for honesty, and provide their customers with sound advice as to when timing belt repair needs to be done.

2) Why people need to change their car’s timing belts.

As the name indicates, a timing belt controls the timing of a car’s engine. As such, it is critically important that a timing belt remains tight. In the early life of an automobile, a tensioner helps to maintain tightness in the timing belt, but over the miles, a timing belt simply stretches out. When this occurs, problems arise within the automobile’s engine. Bad timing causes the valves to knock against the pistons, which can lead to serious engine problems. These problems range from bent pistons to bent rods, and none of them are easy or cheap to repair. Sometimes the only way to fix this damage is by replacing the entire engine. The best way to avoid these issues is for individuals to stay on top of their timing belt maintenance with the team at Accurate Automotive.

3) What changing a timing belt will do for a car.

Simply put, individuals who change their timing belt when they should help to extend the life of their automobile. The bottom line is that cars that are maintained regularly by qualified technicians tend to last longer and run better than cars that are not. Changing the timing belt is a pretty intensive procedure, so individuals should be prepared to leave their car at the shop for a while. However, individuals should also bear in mind that Accurate Automotive provides diligent customer service so cars are returned to customers as quickly as possible. Additionally, Accurate Automotive offers shuttle services to customers to help get them where they need to go. Car owners in the East Valley should take advantage of Accurate Automotive when the time comes to change their timing belt.

Additional Technical Information:

Timing belts are reinforced bands of rubber used to coordinate the turnings of crankshafts and camshafts in internal combustion engines. The inner surface of most timing belts have teeth which correspond precisely to the gears of a specific engine design. In earlier automobiles, timing belts were only responsible for synchronizing camshafts and crankshafts, but modern engines often use them to drive water pumps as well.

Timing belts play a vital role in keeping the valves and pistons working in a precise order. Each valve and piston combination must push down on the individual cams on a camshaft at just the right moment. Think of a bicyclist waiting until one pedal has reached the top before he can bear down on it again. If he tried to push down on the other pedal too soon, his foot might fall through or the pedal could break off. Timing belts work to prevent the pistons and valves from pushing on the camshaft before it has reached a full cycle.

Timing belts are engineered to last at least 60,000 miles, with some newer designs lasting the life of the engine. Vehicle owners are urged to replace timing belts according to the car manufacturer's recommendations. If a timing belt fails completely, the entire engine will grind to a halt and the car will become inoperable. In a worst case scenario, the valves and pistons may drive themselves into the camshaft and become hopelessly bent or broken. There is usually very little warning before timing belts fail, so a timely replacement may be the best prevention.

Replacing timing belts is generally not a job for amateur mechanics. The belts are generally inaccessible without removing quite a few other peripheral parts, like the distributor and possibly the water pump. The replacement timing belts must match the old ones precisely, which may require a time-consuming custom order. Once the timing belt itself has been replaced, the mechanic must synchronize the camshaft and the crankshaft with a special strobe light. Repairing broken timing belts can take several hours, and the vehicle will have to be towed into the shop.

It is not unusual for a mechanic to suggest replacing the water pump, cam and crank seals at the same time as the timing belt, even if there is no obvious damage. It is not a requirement to take this advice, but it may pay off in the long run. Almost all of the labor required to replace a water pump and seals has already been accomplished while replacing the timing belt. If the water pump or seals should fail later on, the mechanic would have to go through all of those preliminary steps again. Timing belts may only have to be replaced once in a car's lifetime, so it is a huge value to replace the water pump, seals and any associated parts at the same time you have the timing belt replaced.

Check Engine Light

What should I do if my check engine light comes on?

Phoenix Drivers Must Know How to Respond to a Check Engine Light

As the Valley’s premier auto shop,Magic Aut fields a large variety of questions. And one question that seems to continuously come up is, “What should I do if my check engine light comes on?” Most drivers readily recognize that a check engine light signals problems, but they do not know the severity of those problems, and do not know what action they should take. Should drivers pull immediately to the side of the road? Should drivers have their car towed? The answer to these questions is no, but drivers should take swift action to have their car or truck looked at by a professional at Accurate Automotive. Doing so is the single-most important thing they can do to ensure that no further damage befalls their automobile.

What kinds of problems does a check engine light signify?

The truth of the matter is that check engine lights can indicate any number of issues. On one end of the spectrum, a check engine light can be a warning of something as simple as a gas lid that needs tightening. On the other end of the spectrum, the check engine light can indicate serious problems with the vehicle’s engine. Until a driver has a professional ascertain the cause of the light, he or she should be wary of driving a car displaying a check engine light.

How does Magic Auto determine the source of the problem when a check engine light is displayed in a vehicle?

Modern vehicles are controlled in large part by on board computers. When these computers recognize a problem with the inner workings of a vehicle, they send a signal to the dash that lights the check engine light. The computer then stores a code that describes the problem, which can be read by a diagnostic tool. Most people do not have these diagnostic tools in their home garage, and must rely on professionals to perform the diagnosis. Magic Auto has the full range of diagnostics tools and can quickly determine the problem when a check engine light is displayed.

What should drivers do if their check engine light appears?

There are a few things drivers can do to protect their vehicles if the check engine light appears. First of all, they should make sure that no other problems are apparent by checking the other gauges on their dash. If the car or truck is overheating or low on oil, for instance, they should pull over immediately and allow the vehicle to cool or fill the oil. Another thing drivers should do is make sure their gas cap is secure, as a loose gas cap is a very common reason for check engine lights to display. If the light appears while the car is towing a load or being driven at high speeds, drivers should reduce their load and/or slow down to see if the light turns off. After doing all of these things, drivers should then call Magic Auto to have a technician use the proper diagnostics tools and inspect the vehicle. The technicians at Magic Auto can thoroughly examine the vehicle and determine if any action should be taken to preserve the life of the car or truck.