A broken cambelt could cause you thousands of pounds of unnecessary expense.
The Cambelt, also know as a timing belt, on a vehicle, ensures that all moving components, such as pistons and valves, are synchronised and thus avoid any unwanted contact with each other.
The fact that the belt is made from a rubber based compound provides benefits such as reduced noise and increased efficiency. But it also means that, just like tyres, the belt can deteriorate over time.
Cambelt changes should only be taken by people who have the specific equipment, calibration tools and experience for your make and model of car.
The purpose of a timing belt is to ensure that the moving components of an engine revolve in perfect co-ordination. Hidden behind guards fixed to the engine, the timing belt is guided around pulley wheels and tensioners and links the crankshaft to the camshafts.
The belt revolves at 1000s of revolutions per minute, withstanding extreme mechanical and thermal stresses, so replacing the belts and tensioners are the scheduled intervals is essential maintenance. Failure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations can have costly implications.