Replacing the timing belt is a mandatory procedure performed during periodic vehicle maintenance. As a rule, car enthusiasts entrust such work to specialists of car service services, although there is no difficulty in replacing the belt as such.
There are two types of systems for transmitting rotation to the gas distribution mechanism: chain and belt. The latter is the most common due to its practicality and the possibility of repair even in the field. The timing belt is replaced every 30-45 thousand mileage, along with the belt, tension rollers must be replaced. Repair work will require 2-3 hours of free time, a garage with good lighting and a portable car lamp. The pit is optional.
How to choose a belt and rollers
It is not worth saving on buying a belt: the higher the price, the less the likelihood of premature wear. The belt should be carefully examined by bending and twisting it in different directions. During the test, no cracks should appear on the surface, and the splines should be of a clear rectangular or trapezoidal shape. The video should be unpacked and played in the presence of the seller. A good mechanism will not make a sound when it rotates. In addition, the presence of even minor defects on the metal bracket is unacceptable.
It is very easy to remove the belt without effort
Before removing the old belt, you will need to provide free access to the repair site: remove the plastic timing case, engine protection and mudguard; for convenience, you can remove the wheel. In any case, the car will need to be raised on a jack in order to release one of the driving wheels, after setting the car on the handbrake and engaging the fourth gear.
After removing the casing, you need to unscrew the bolt that fixes the tension of the roller. When the belt is loose, it can be removed without effort. There is no need to cut the belt: it is better to keep it in the trunk in case of an emergency.
Replacing the rollers and adjusting the timing
In most cases, the roller has two bolts: tension and fixing. They must be completely unscrewed and the mechanism removed. When installing a new tensioner roller, the fixing bolt is tightened completely, and the tensioner just needs to be screwed on 1, 5-2 turns.
If the timing belt is replaced as planned, then adjustment is not required. If the belt breaks on the move, you will need to install the gas distribution mechanism at the beginning of the cycle and find the top dead center for the first cylinder. This can be done using special marks applied to the pulleys, the gearbox housing and the cylinder head. A detailed description of the appearance and location of the labels can be found in the vehicle's service manual. The camshaft pulley is manually rotated, and the easiest way to turn the crankshaft is through the wheel.
Installing a new belt
The new belt must be put on with the utmost care so as not to knock off the established marks. If the splines do not line up with the grooves on the pulleys, one of the latter will need to be rotated slightly. When the belt is put on the pulleys, it is placed in the groove of the roller, which should be squeezed out with a pry bar. To tighten the belt, you need help: one person presses the roller, and the other tightens the tension bolt. A well-tensioned belt should twist a quarter turn with your fingers.
