What happens if the timing belt jumps one tooth?

How to determine that a car's timing belt has jumped

Like any other car component or part, the timing belt performs certain functions.
It is entrusted with a significant option, and due to the convincingness of its functioning, the operational duration and security of the automotive power plant as a whole is determined. Jumping or slipping of the timing belt is a fairly common phenomenon familiar to many motorists. The belt slips one tooth or several. We are talking about the teeth of the crankshaft or camshaft flywheel. It is clear that such a situation can lead to serious problems.

Signs and symptoms

There are six main signs that the timing belt has jumped.

The car engine is unstable.
The engine constantly stalls.
Noticeable loss of engine power and thrust.
The engine starts with problems or does not start at all.
The power plant is stuck.
The sound of the engine becomes louder - a metallic knock appears.

Most often, it happens that the product jumps one tooth, and because of this, the engine continues to operate, but increases fuel consumption, and there are also interruptions in operation and starting.

If you suspect that several teeth have jumped, you should not restart the engine. In the worst case, this can cause the valves to bend.

If the timing belt has jumped or broken | Motorist's benefit

The timing belt on a car engine ensures synchronization of the crankshaft with the timing shaft (camshaft). On engines with a timing belt, breaking it or slipping even one tooth can lead to serious problems, which in the future may lead to a major overhaul of the engine.

Signs of a timing belt that has jumped on the pulley

If the timing belt has jumped, the symptoms may be as follows:

Unstable motor operation

There may be several reasons why the timing belt may jump. Firstly, low tension, and secondly, the presence of oil on the camshaft or crankshaft pulley can cause the belt to slip. Well, and most importantly, a broken timing belt can ultimately lead to damage to the valves of the gas distribution mechanism and internal elements of the internal combustion engine (pistons, connecting rods, etc.)

Broken timing belt while driving

Causes of timing belt breakage

Why does the timing belt break? There may be several reasons for this, and one of the main ones is its wear and tear. Therefore, the manufacturer strongly recommends replacing the timing belt within the vehicle mileage interval specified by the regulations. Next, it is worth noting that the tension roller is damaged or weakened, which can undoubtedly cause the belt to break or slip. The cause of the break may also be a jammed water pump pulley. If the engine has two camshafts, then the failure of one can also be a consequence of a broken timing belt, but in this case the consequences can be completely different, more disappointing.

Consequences of a broken timing belt on a Lada Priora engine

How to avoid timing belt breakage or slippage

First of all, it is necessary to strictly observe the timing belt replacement interval, in most cases this is 60,000 km. vehicle mileage. Next, keep an eye on the oil seals, including the crankshaft; oil drips under the hood are a sign of one of them leaking. Periodically check the tension of the timing belt; if it becomes loose, immediately take measures to tighten it. Always use original spare parts when replacing a belt. This also includes replacing the pump; buy only the one recommended by the manufacturer.

Find out in more detail when it is necessary to change the timing belt on an internal combustion engine

Photo reports on replacing the timing belt

Opel Astra Renault Logan Audi A4 Audi 100 Chevrolet Lacetti Chevrolet Aveo On diesel engines Volkswagen Toyota Estima Emina 3C Renault 25 Mazda Demio

In internal combustion engines that use a timing belt in the timing drive, there is always the danger of it jumping over one or more teeth.

If the timing belt has jumped

, then the signs of this, depending on the design of the engine, may be the following:

• Unstable engine operation • Engine stalls • Loss of power • Poor starting or even impossible to start • Engine wedge

As a rule, if the timing belt jumps within two teeth, the engine will continue to run, but with visible interruptions. When the belt jumps more than two teeth, the consequences can be very different.

Consequences

The consequences of the timing belt jumping several teeth can be different - from replacing the timing belt itself to repairing the car’s gas distribution mechanism.

The amount of damage depends on whether the engine has recesses for valves in the pistons or not.

A jump can occur while the valves are being lowered to inject fuel or release gases. The pistons are still moving and can hit the valves hard. This will lead to bending of the latter. This situation is similar to a broken timing belt. You can read more about which engines this happens on in this article.

To avoid this situation, it is recommended to do a timely inspection and, if necessary, change the consumable.

Consequences of malfunctions

Problems in the timing chain drive lead to the following problems:

A stretched and weakened chain jumps several teeth. As a rule, this happens when the engine starts.
A chain operating with increased free play often breaks the guide and even “gnaws” a groove in the cylinder head made of aluminum alloy.
In some brands of cars where a single-row chain is used in power units, it may break.

Note. Chain drives of the timing unit can be single- or double-row. The former are not as reliable and durable as the latter, and often break down after a run of 50-80 thousand km. Double-row drives break extremely rarely, even when the owner of the car does not pay due attention to it.

Double-row chains also break, but very rarely

The consequences of these problems may be as follows:

The most harmless option is a shift in valve timing due to the chain jumping 1-2 teeth. The engine does not start well and vibrates strongly during operation, and there is a clear loss of power while driving. When you press the accelerator pedal sharply, shots are heard in the intake manifold or exhaust pipe.
When there is a 3 tooth offset, the engine will no longer start. Another thing is that in practice such situations are rare; a too loose chain skips much more. The result is a piston hitting a valve that opened at the wrong time.
Due to severe wear or breakage of the damper, the chain drive is weakened even more, causing the consequences described above.
The damage caused by a broken single-row chain depends on the type of engine and the moment when it happened. If all the valves were closed, then the pistons, which continued to move, would not reach their plates.

This is what the valves look like after meeting the pistons

In power units with 8 valves, encounters with the piston are quite rare due to the technological clearances provided for by the design (except for individual motors). But a 16V engine valve that is open when the chain breaks or jumps almost always receives a blow from the piston. As a result, its stem bends and the valve remains in the open position. In especially severe cases, the consequences are as follows:

even the valve seat and guide bushing are damaged;
a through hole appears in the upper part of the piston;
A dent appears on the plane of the cylinder head near the combustion chamber, which makes it necessary to replace it entirely.

A chain that has jumped or broken while driving makes itself felt by a sharp loss of power or complete engine failure. If you were able to hear a metallic knock, indicating the meeting of the piston and valve, then you should prepare for serious repairs to the power unit.

And this is a piston pierced by a valve plate

How to determine if a chain drive is faulty

Unlike the timing belt drive, which is located outside the engine, the chain with gears is located inside the power unit and is completely hidden from view. On the one hand, this is a plus: the mechanism makes less noise and is generously lubricated with engine oil, which increases its service life. On the other hand, without removing the valve cover it is impossible to visually assess the technical condition of the unit.

The first sign of a chain drive problem is a rumbling sound coming from under the cover when the power unit is operating. The rumble of a weakened chain cannot be confused with anything; it is heard from the side where the gas distribution mechanism is located.

Loosening with a gap of up to 1 cm allows the chain to jump when starting the engine

Having heard such a sound, the car owner should check the condition of the drive so as not to encounter big troubles associated with engine repair. There are 2 ways: immediately go for diagnostics to the nearest car service center, or remove the valve cover yourself and make sure that the section of the chain near the camshaft gear is loose. Worsening tension is caused by the following reasons:

due to stretching to such a length that the tensioning device is unable to pick up the slack;
due to a faulty tensioner;
the damping plate is worn out or torn;
Due to the high mileage of the car, all the parts of the mechanism have worn out - the chain, gears, tensioner and damper.

More about Nissan: Nissan Patrol - characteristics, configurations, photo video, review

If an old-style mechanical tensioning device is installed in the car engine, then when the described symptoms appear, the first action is to tighten the chain with its help. To do this, simply loosen the outer nut holding the plunger spring and manually turn the crankshaft 1-2 turns.

Old VAZ 2101–07 engines have a mechanical tensioner with a nut

Modern automatic hydraulic tensioners are not designed for manual adjustment and must be replaced if they break. You can verify that the element has failed only by removing it or disassembling the entire timing belt assembly. The same applies to the damper - on most cars, its wear can only be assessed when the mechanism is disassembled.

Ignoring the rumbling noise made by the chain will sooner or later lead to motor failure. The severity of the consequences depends only on your luck.

Repair cost

The average price for replacing a belt and roller in car services ranges from one to three thousand rubles. The price range is due to the fact that replacing parts on foreign cars costs approximately 2–3 times more than on domestic cars.

If it turns out that you also need to change the engine water cooling pump and the crankshaft oil seal, then the price will increase by another 1 - 1.5 thousand rubles.

Although there is a huge selection of products on the market at different price levels, you should only choose brands recommended by the manufacturer or their high-quality analogues. Using cheap parts can lead to serious damage and expensive repairs.

For example, if the valves are bent as a result of a belt slipping, then almost the entire cylinder head will have to be replaced. Even if the repair is carried out by yourself, the cost of replacing valves, pump, belt, filling oil and antifreeze, and other parts will be at least 10,000 rubles.

The timing belt on a car engine ensures synchronization of the crankshaft with the timing shaft (camshaft).
On engines with a timing belt, breaking it or slipping even one tooth can lead to serious problems, which in the future may lead to a major overhaul of the engine.

The main nuances of the functioning of the timing belt in cars

It is extremely important to understand that the rubber timing element is responsible for transmitting the timing gear in the motor shafts. The latter, in turn, are responsible for the maintenance of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders of the power unit.

How belts break

If the timing belt jumps or breaks, the entire timing belt system begins to function differently. All this is manifested by shifts and malfunctions of the most important component of the car - its engine. It was written in detail above that in these cases the power of the power plant necessarily decreases, fuel consumption increases and starting deteriorates.

In addition, slippage or rupture of the timing component can cause failure of the piston-valve group in the engine. When the belt breaks, the valves open towards the piston, which leads to internal engine problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytabouten-GB

Monitoring the condition of the timing belt is a guarantee of preventing severe consequences for the power plant. But it is important to be able to control not only the appearance of the belt, but also the degree of tension. On their own, which is quite natural, it will be extremely difficult for a person with non-professional skills to diagnose the correct installation of the belt.

The period for replacing the most important timing part may vary. It depends on the specific car manufacturer. In addition, it is necessary to take into account such an indicator as the originality of the part. It is clear that “left” companies can easily produce defective belts or belts with a reduced service life.

It is also important to understand that on the modern market you quite often find parts of the universal type rather than the standard one. What does it mean? It's simple - universal parts, belts in this case, are not made for a specific car. They are not a priori characterized by good quality, and although they are cheaper than the original ones, they are not recommended for purchase.

Timing diagram

You can distinguish an original belt from a universal one (there are several effective ways). If the part is universal, then to determine the service life of the belt and its replacement, you will have to take this into account. In other words, if the manufacturer indicated that the belt can last 70 thousand kilometers on his car, this does not apply to the universal one. This one will definitely last less.

As mentioned above, the service life of the belt on front-wheel drive VAZs is approximately 60-70 thousand kilometers. If the car was purchased secondhand, you should not trust its owner who claims that the belt is new, there will be no problems with it.

When choosing a new timing belt for your car, it is recommended to pay great attention to the material. If there are no marks left on the rubber after several folds in and out, most likely the material is fine.

But on the contrary, if even the slightest microcracks are noticed, it is better not to buy such a belt right away.

It is also recommended to check the belt model number with the number specified in the operating manual for a specific vehicle. The numbers are unlikely to match; it is a great success if such a belt can be found. But you can check belts in another way: by comparing the length, width and thickness of the old factory belt and the new analogue.

The belt must also be checked around its entire circumference. If protruding threads are noticeable on the ribs, the cord will be visible, it is better to immediately abandon this option.

Timing belt teeth

If you do not have the appropriate skills and ability to work with your own hands, it is better to entrust replacing the timing belt to professionals. Without a doubt, a seemingly simple operation at first glance can fray your nerves and take a lot of effort. And most importantly, an illiterate replacement can lead to even bigger problems.

Of course, in a big city it will be easier to find a quality car service among the many options. In rural areas, you have to rely on the honesty of service station workers or carry out this event yourself. The most important thing is that it does not matter which method was chosen, what is more important is to save time and money, getting the highest quality result.

Tired of paying fines? There is an exit!

Forget about fines from cameras! An absolutely legal new product - Traffic Police Camera Jammer, hides your license plates from the cameras that are installed in all cities. More details at the link.

Absolutely legal (Article 12.2);
Hides from photo and video recording;
Suitable for all cars;
Works through the cigarette lighter connector;
Does not cause interference to radios and cell phones.

Author's note: Jumping or slipping of the timing belt is a fairly common phenomenon familiar to many motorists. The belt slips one tooth or several. We are talking about the teeth of the crankshaft or camshaft flywheel. It is clear that such a situation can lead to serious problems.

This is how a timing belt works

The timing belt is an important element of the car, so it needs to be serviced promptly. The reasons that lead to its jump are the following:

Contact of oil or cooling liquid on the belt surface
Improper use
Late replacement
External damage
Incorrectly placed labels
Difficult operating conditions
Low quality spare parts

Of course, these are not all cases due to which the timing belt breaks or jumps. But this can be understood by the following signs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upload

If it turns out that you also need to change the engine water cooling pump and the crankshaft oil seal, then the price will increase by another 1 - 1.5 thousand rubles.

Forget about fines from cameras! An absolutely legal new product - Traffic Police Camera Jammer, hides your license plates from the cameras that are installed in all cities. More details at the link.

Absolutely legal (Article 12.2);
Hides from photo and video recording;
Suitable for all cars;
Works through the cigarette lighter connector;
Does not cause interference to radios and cell phones.

Symptoms of malfunction

The main signs that the belt or chain has slipped:

change in throttle response, power, engine torque;
increase in the toxicity of exhaust gases, their shade;
problems when starting the engine;
a “check engine” error message appears on the dashboard;
the occurrence of extraneous noise of a non-metallic (for belt drive) and mechanical nature (for both chain and belt drives).

If such signs appear, you should stop driving (start the engine), have the engine diagnosed, or contact a mechanic.

This is how a timing belt works

The timing belt is an important element of the car, so it needs to be serviced promptly. The reasons that lead to its jump are the following:

Contact of oil or cooling liquid on the belt surface
Improper use
Late replacement
External damage
Incorrectly placed labels
Difficult operating conditions
Low quality spare parts

Of course, these are not all cases due to which the timing belt breaks or jumps. But this can be understood by the following signs.

Gentlemen, has anyone had cases where the belt was not on the marks by 1-2-3 teeth? What are the symptoms and how does it manifest itself in operation? Troits, knocks, rings? Otherwise, there are suspicions after the replacement.

on 3S something like that. With just one tooth, the car started with half a kick, but when you pressed the gas pedal there was a ringing sound in your fingers. My father-in-law's Crown 1G refused to start at all)))

When pressing the gas at idle or while driving? I just get a ringing sound when I move and lightly press the gas.

What's stopping you from removing the covers and checking the marks? If everything is fine, then the electrician needs to set the ignition with a strobe light (in this case, a jumper is placed in the diagnostic connector between Te1 and e1)

both in place and on the move

I really appreciate your participation and admit that I did not provide complete information about the car. You see, I have a 7A-LB engine and the ignition on it is not adjustable. In addition, having worked as a diagnostician myself (albeit for Volvos), I would not have asked a respected forum for help if everything was so simple.)

Wow, this is not my case, I only have it while moving and only with a fully warmed up engine.

I'm waiting for more comments)

By the way, the same canoe after replacing the timing belt, according to the marks, everything is correct, I removed the cover twice, but the ignition stops earlier, I feel it, detonation appears too often. When the heat is not scary, but when frosts start, there may be problems with starting. Even if you fill the gasoline with 98, it still makes a jingling sound. And the tooth here and there won’t be anything terrible, just not big problems. On the jig, I specially threw the chain over one tooth when I went long distance, it ran more fun.

It’s very wrong for you to think so about a mistake of one tooth. Yes, it will start without problems even by 2-3 teeth, but it won’t drive normally even with a mistake of one tooth or it will start guzzling fuel like crazy. Zhiguli is not an example, you know why. And what are the problems, check the installation of the timing belt, there are a lot of books there, everything is simply described there, or ask someone who knows.

By the way, as an option, detonation occurs from severe coking of the CPG, then detonation is practically invincible without drastic measures.

P0340 or the timing belt does not hit 1 tooth - logbook Hyundai Getz 1.6 16V 2004 on DRIVE2

The receipt from the purchase was on fire. The owner threw up his hands, saying he blinked when it caught fire, but the car was running, so there was no need to get into it. I immediately thought it was error 340 - an error in the camshaft sensor circuit. The Internet said that it was the Khan sensor, that oil could get into its contact and that’s all, provided that the car was driving. I accidentally came across on some website about other cars in general that the same error was on, but as it turned out, the timing belt did not hit 1 tooth according to the marks. The car is moving, but the gas timing is already off. In contact with the Goetz group, the guru immediately said that if the timing belt is knocked off by 1 tooth, then the valves will knock. In the group of accent guides (their motor), essentially no one answered anything. And the other day, one comrade in the accent group made a note that error 342 was on, he opened the covers, and there on the camshaft pulley the mark did not match by 1 tooth, he set everything again, the error went out and the car froze. Well, I read a lot of manuals (most smart), bought a 22 head and went to the garage with jitters and trembling in my knees) I’ll say right away that there’s nothing complicated, just very scary.

Broken timing belt: causes and consequences

Purpose of the timing belt

The timing belt is an important element responsible for the synchronous and harmonious operation of the camshaft and crankshaft of an internal combustion engine. The part is responsible for the function of timely opening and closing of valves. A fully functional belt turns the camshaft at a strictly specified pace - exactly two times slower than the crankshaft turns. During the rotation of the camshaft, a fuel-air mixture (FA) is supplied to the engine cylinders, and exhaust gases are discharged through the exhaust system. A broken timing belt disrupts the entire normal operating cycle of the power unit, and can lead to serious consequences.

Belt drive was introduced by manufacturers to produce lighter and cheaper automobile engines. At the same time, the noise of the running motor has been significantly reduced. But ordinary consumers paid for everything. Innovations in terms of installing the timing belt have brought problems with maintenance and replacement. The service life of a belt drive is much shorter, and during its operation one should constantly “monitor” its condition and tension.

The designers implied that the timing belt itself must simultaneously have high strength, which is close to the chain, and be completely elastic and wear-resistant. As a result of design efforts, a three-layer timing belt design appeared.

Timing belt replacement interval

Even if the engine’s performance is satisfactory, do not forget to timely check the condition of the timing belt, because it also has a wear limit. You can find out this value from the car’s technical passport, but you can do it much simpler: it is recommended to change the spare part every 50 thousand kilometers. If you bought a used car and don't know when it was last replaced, visually inspect the belt. The appearance of microcracks on the body is the first sign of concern.

However, do not panic, because microcracks do not mean that the assembly will break at the first load. Inside it has a metal base made of thin rods. This allows you to withstand impressive shock loads and not tear for a long period of time. On some models, automakers install impact-resistant belts with reinforced metal cord. Thus, it is possible to extend the service life by approximately 30%.

Causes of timing belt breakage

There are several reasons why the timing belt breaks, and to determine them you need to have at least a little understanding of the structure of the power unit. Often, drivers encounter this problem after replacing a belt or repairing the gas distribution mechanism, which is associated with replacing valve guides.

Causes of timing belt breakage

The timing belt is one of the main elements of a car that needs to be serviced promptly and efficiently. In this case, the reasons for a broken timing belt may be the following:

Untimely replacement of the unit. As a rule, the manufacturer recommends replacing the product after 60-70 thousand kilometers. But recommendations may differ - each manufacturer can indicate its own time parameters, which are often more or less than the period we mentioned.

Incorrect operation. The belt can break not only due to natural aging, but due to errors in the operation of the entire unit. For example, if the tensioners, rollers or pump jam while driving, the resulting impulse can lead to a rupture of the timing belt. It looks strong and doesn't tear. When the rotation of the crankshaft reaches 5-6 thousand revolutions, any sudden impulse can lead to irreparable consequences. Particular attention should be paid to belt tension. Often the cause of rupture is its constriction. On the other hand, weakening the tension can lead to a problem with similar consequences - the belt jumping off the pulley grooves. There is a high probability of the same situation if there is strong play in one of the pulleys. That is why it is so important to promptly check the timing belt tension and the condition of all system elements.

Oil getting on the surface. When the first traces of oil or coolant appear on the timing belt, the product must be replaced. Otherwise, the entire gas distribution mechanism may not operate efficiently, the belt may slip, jump off the pulley, or even break. Many car enthusiasts make a big mistake - they simply wipe off the existing dirt with a rag and continue to use the car.

As practice shows, once technical liquid gets on the belt texture, it is no longer possible to remove it. Rubber literally absorbs oil and loses its quality. You can only save yourself by replacing it.

Low quality product. When purchasing a timing belt on the market “cheaply,” be prepared for “surprises” during operation. Please note that saving in this matter will inevitably lead to even greater costs in the future. If you are going to buy parts for a car, they must be original. In this case, you will be absolutely sure of their quality and declared service life. Service station technicians are well aware of situations where, because of a few hundred rubles in savings, car owners spent tens of thousands on repairs. This is not surprising, because a low-quality timing belt may not last even 20 thousand kilometers. Believe me, driving and expecting the belt to hold up at any time is not the best pleasure.

External damage. Due to natural wear and tear or poor quality, various defects may appear on the belt, for example, indentations, cracks, peeling of threads at the end of the product, and so on. Such defects cannot and cannot be eliminated. The only solution in this case is to install a new belt. You shouldn’t ignore the problem either, because at maximum load even a small defect will develop very quickly and cause the belt to break. Subsequently, you can blame yourself for a long time for being slow, but you can’t return the past.

Old videos

As the vehicle is used, all elements of the gas distribution mechanism wear out. If the belt is worn out and loses its functionality, then the tension roller will deteriorate in quality even when it looks quite good on the outside.

It is not recommended to skimp on this important part, since excessive load on it when tensioning a new belt can lead to jamming and another break.

In addition, the new timing belt on the old pulley may slip. This phenomenon will inevitably lead to increased wear of all elements. In addition, the power unit will be noisier. So it’s better to change the entire set.

Broken timing belt: causes and consequences

Purpose of the timing belt

Timing belt replacement interval

Causes of timing belt breakage

The timing belt is one of the main elements of a car that needs to be serviced promptly and efficiently. In this case, the reasons for a broken timing belt may be the following:

Mismatch between crankshaft and camshaft pulley marks

Not every car owner who services his “iron horse” knows where exactly the marks are located on the crankshaft and camshaft pulley. In addition, due to contamination of the power unit, they are often difficult to see. Inconsistency in these parameters can lead to disastrous consequences.

As a result, the timing belt may jump one or more teeth. This will lead to engine malfunctions. In the worst case scenario, the unit will stop starting altogether.