Timing Belt Replacements in Denver, Littleton, & Lakewood

Your vehicle’s timing belt isn’t just important. It’s a crucial component of your engine.

The timing belt is integral to make sure that your engine operates as it should. Here at Urban Autocare, we replace timing belts, protecting your vehicle from damage while ensuring that your engine operates as it should. Let’s take a look at the purpose of the timing belt, signs that you may have a failing timing belt, and why it’s crucial to have your belt replaced before it fails.

What Does Your Timing Belt Do?

The timing belt is essential for timing the camshafts which control piston firing in the engine. In conjunction with the camshaft, the timing belt determines when engine valves open and close, which provides precise timing for piston firing. The timing belt and camshafts determine how much torque your engine produces, and they ensure that your engine runs smoothly and efficiently.

Signs of a Failing Timing Belt

It can be difficult to know when a timing belt is failing, since rubber timing belts are built to run silently. However, there are a few signs that you might notice which should serve as a red flag:

How Do You Check a Timing Belt?

The timing belt is at the front of an engine’s crankshaft. And unfortunately, it’s completely self-contained. You won’t be able to examine the timing belt without disassembling part of the engine. Thus, it’s highly recommended that you bring your vehicle to a mechanic if you have concerns about your timing belt. That said, if you do decide to pull your engine apart yourself, you can tell if a timing belt is damaged if it is frayed, shredded, cracked, or missing teeth.

Fix Your Timing Belt Before It Fails

If your timing belt is failing, you should take your vehicle to a mechanic immediately—don’t attempt to drive your vehicle to a repair shop; have it towed. If your timing belt does fail or break completely while running the engine, you can cause irreparable damage to the engine. Valves can bend, the camshaft and cylinders can be damaged. It’s likely that your engine will be totaled if your timing belt fails while the engine is running. Even if you have an interference engine, a timing belt failure can ruin your engine.

Urban Autocare Timing Belt Replacements

Don’t let your timing belt ruin your engine. If you’re experiencing any of the above signs, then it is time for you to stop in and visit your local mechanics here at Urban Autocare. We have four locations — South Denver, Lakewood, Littleton, and North Denver — and we’re proud to serve folks throughout the Denver Metro area, including our friends in Park Hill, Washington Park, Downtown, and Uptown. We also work with all sorts of makes and models, including Jeep, Subaru, and Toyota, to name a few.

Trust us to take a look at your timing belt. We provide timing belt replacements, and that might just save your engine! Timing belts should be replaced every 60,000 to 100,000 miles, or 8-10 years depending on the vehicle and engine. We also recommend replacing the water pump if it is driven by the timing belt to prevent future issues with it. We also replace the timing belt tensioner and other rollers at the same time. Contact us to find out about recommended replacement time — reach out to Urban Autocare to schedule your timing belt replacement!