What happens if I wait too long to get the timing belt replaced?
03-18-2004, 02:50 PM
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What happens if I wait too long to get the timing belt replaced?
I have a 1999 A6 Avant with ~85K miles. I have heard conflicting reports about when to do a timing/water pumb, etc. job. Also, what happens if I wait too long?
03-18-2004, 04:51 PM
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It is possible that you will get piston to valve contact.
When the timing belt breaks the valves stop moving (not instantly but pretty quickly) but the pistons may not stop as quickly. The problem is that there is not enough clearance for the pistons to go all the way up the cylinder at the same time as the valves are in the fully open position. You may be lucky (I had a broken timing belt in my Acura with no damage) and everything stops in the right place and no valves get bent or pistons gouged. On the other hand you could get some broken valves and damaged pistons. I had a Lotus that broke the timing chain (I think it was a chain and not a belt) and needed a bunch of valves replaced. It actually wasn't that big a job because in most cars you can remove the heads without too much work.
I would recommend doing the timing belt pretty much when you should. I wouldn't count on luck to save my ***. My Acura timing belt broke at 120,000 which was about 50% over the recommended replacement interval.
I would recommend doing the timing belt pretty much when you should. I wouldn't count on luck to save my ***. My Acura timing belt broke at 120,000 which was about 50% over the recommended replacement interval.
