Chevrolet Timing Belt Service & Replacement for the Portland Area

Not all car engines are equipped with a timing belt; some have a timing chain instead. If your Chevrolet has a timing belt, then its replacement is a part of recommended maintenance that's set to happen somewhere around 60,000 miles. You should be able to find details for this service in your owner's manual, or you can always speak with one of our friendly service advisers at Carr Chevrolet. Below, we look at some timing belt information that we think is important to know.

What is a Timing Belt & Why it Replacing it Important?

The timing belt is responsible for ensuring the intake and exhaust valves at the top of the engine open and close in perfect time with the movement of the pistons. Without the precise timing of these components, your engine simply won't run, or it may run poorly.

The precise timing of engine parts is even more critical when it comes to interference engines. These engines offer great fuel economy and power with higher compression ratios. They accomplish this by having the piston come higher into the combustion chamber, which happens to be in the same space the valves need to open. This isn't a problem so long as the valves are closed when the piston reaches the top of its stroke. However, if a valve is in the open position when the piston comes up, catastrophic damage is typically the result.

This is why it's so important to have the timing belt replaced before it wears out and breaks. Fortunately, timing belts are made from a tough material that will last a good long while. The general rule for replacing a timing belt is about every 60,000 miles, but we recommend speaking with one of our experts to get a schedule that best meets the needs of your exact model.

Timing Belt vs Serpentine Belt

These are often confused as being the same thing, but they're not. You see, the timing belt is located inside the engine, and getting to it is a bit of a project. The serpentine belt, on the other hand, is the one you can see when you look in your engine compartment. That's the belt the runs things like the alternator, AC compressor, and perhaps the power steering pump. It's much easier and quicker to replace the serpentine belt than the timing belt, but it's still important to replace both before they break. Otherwise, you could be going nowhere fast.

Contact the Service Center at Carr Chevrolet in Beaverton, OR

We get excited about helping drivers throughout the Portland Area get the most out of their ride, and we invite you to schedule your next service appointment right here online. If you have any questions, we'd love to speak with you over the phone or in person without an appointment at 15005 SW Tualatin Valley Highway, Beaverton, OR 97006.

Why are the Dealership Technicians at Carr Chevrolet a Safe Bet?

In our factory-authorized service center at Carr Chevrolet, we're saddened to hear customer stories about other mechanics not doing a very good job. We don't want you to ever have one of these kinds of stories again, so we go the extra mile to do all we can for every customer. Our technicians frequently attend training from factory experts. This way, we always know the details about the latest Chevy systems and technology, so you don't have to worry about a mechanic that just throws new parts at it until the problem goes away. We'll also use OEM and factory-approved parts and products so your GM model maintains the same high quality it rolled off the assembly line with.