Many motor factors were in attendance at a recent presentation in Dublin given by Andrew Vaux of Gates. The informative evening concerned timing belt installation and the clear message was, “Before you install a belt and associated parts, know and follow the most current procedures precisely to be confident the job will be done right.”

According to Andrew, almost all failures of timing belts, tensioners, idlers and related parts are from a direct result of mechanics not following all of the proper installation procedures. If the tension is not precise premature failure could occur within days, and sometimes instantly.

Andrew explained that the proper fit and tension can only be achieved by following the procedures for a specific engine. Care has to be taken to get the most current installation instructions as these instructions are continually evolving. Making do with fitting instructions concerning a model from another year or a vehicle with only a slight difference in specification could be an expensive mistake. The only way to avoid problems is to have the most current information to hand and to follow it to the letter.

A further consideration is changing belt technology mean most belts installed in the last 7 years are made from a more advanced type of rubber called EPDM. This has different wear characteristics to older belts and means they should be tested with a wear gauge.

See more on this story in the November issue of Autobiz.