Timing Belt Replacement Service

The Function of a Timing Belt

The timing belt plays a crucial role in engine combustion, so let's take a quick look at what happens in each cylinder of your vehicle's engine. An intake valve will open up and let a fuel and air mixture in. This valve closes and the piston moves up in the cylinder, compressing this mixture. A spark from the spark plug ignites the fuel and air mixture, and the combustion pushes the piston back down. With the piston out of the way, an exhaust valve opens to vent the exhaust. The pistons turn the crankshaft, which converts the pistons' up-and-down motion to rotational motion. The camshaft opens and closes the intake and exhaust valves. The timing belt synchronizes the rotation of the camshaft and crankshaft, ensuring that all of this motion happens exactly when it needs to.

Consequences of a Broken Timing Belt Near Springfield, OH

Most modern Honda models have interference engines. This means that the piston occupies the same space in the cylinder that the valves occupy when they are open. If the timing belt breaks, the timing of the valves and the pistons will no longer be synchronized. Your vehicle's pistons will strike the open valves, destroying them and causing massive, irreparable harm to your engine.

Timing Belts vs. Timing Chains

Instead of timing belts, some vehicles use timing chains. Timing chains do not have to be replaced regularly as timing belts do; however, they are heavier and louder than timing belts. Figuring out which type of timing mechanism your Honda has is important. Honda Civic and Honda CR-V models, for example, have had timing chains since the early 2000s. Honda Odyssey and Honda Pilot models have continued to use timing belts for much longer, while different Honda Accord engines have had different timing methods until the recent past. If you're not sure whether your Honda has a timing belt, look in your owner's manual or ask the experts at Honda Marysville near Bellefontaine, Ohio.