What does a timing belt do?

The timing belt, or cambelt, is a vital engine component with a key role to play in keeping your motor running smoothly. It ensures the top and bottom halves of your engine rotate precisely in time with each other. Essentially, this ribbed rubber belt with teeth synchronises the crankshaft and camshaft’s rotation. It controls the sequencing and timing of the opening and closing of the valves on the cylinders in your engine to provide the right combustion. Camshafts, made up of the main journals, the lobes (or bulges) and the ends, control the valves in the cylinder head. A rocker head takes the spinning motion of an overhead camshaft and turns it into the movement that opens and closes the valves. Timing chains essentially perform the same function as cambelts but may be slightly noisier. The chains generally last as long as the vehicle (and generally require less frequent replacing), although the plastic guides they run over may not.

How often should a timing belt need replacing?

There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach for how often to replace yours—a lot depends on your motor’s age and condition. There’s also huge variation between manufacturers and different engines. So you might need a new belt after 4 years, or 6, or after driving 40,000 or 100,000 miles. Consult your car’s manual—most manufacturers’ recommendations are based on time passed or miles driven, depending on which elapses first.

However, we’d always suggest treating these recommendations as a maximum, and erring on the side of caution.

The law, vehicle regulations, and your MOT

The timing belt will not be examined at your car’s MOT, but the associated issues of running a car with a faulty timing belt can lead to severe engine damage, which can.

What happens when we replace your timing belt?

• Our efficient and fully qualified mechanics will disassemble the parts of the engine to access the timing belt and proceed to examine the timing belt, the belt’s pulleys and tensioner.
• Wherever required your timing belt will be replaced and you’ll be advised of any other connected or associated problems arising from its malfunction.
• You will also be advised of any other parts that may need to be replaced for the best operation and health of your vehicle.
• Once the timing belt has been replaced, our mechanics will test your car thoroughly to ensure the correct running of the new part and make any adjustments required for its premium operation.

What causes a timing belt to stop working correctly?

Like most car parts, your timing belt will wear out eventually due to cracking, snapping or tearing. Timing belts are also unpredictable, with few warning signs of damage. (Although starting issues and noise may offer clues.) Driving your car infrequently, oil leaks and temperature changes, among other factors, can all play their part.

Symptoms of a malfunctioning timing belt

You hear unusual noises coming from the engine

If a grinding or squeaking noise is being emitted from your engine, it could be a malfunctioning timing belt.

The car won’t start

If your timing belt has broken, this can cause problems with your engine that lead to the vehicle not starting.

Mazda

The Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer, initially established in 1920 as a toolmaker but went on to start building cars in the 1930s.

How popular is Mazda in the United Kingdom?

An innovative engineering based company, Mazda has over half a million vehicles on the roads in the UK. Their popularity has made a steady climb over the past 10 years; it’s no real surprise with their provision of smartly designed vehicles and unique philosophy.

Luxurious yet affordable motoring

Mazda philosophy: Jinba Ittai—drive together

Mazda professes to create each car around its driver—engineering them to move their drivers both literally and emotionally. They call this ‘Jinba Ittai’, and this inspiration comes from Japanese tradition, a natural connection like that between a horse and rider symbolising a ‘oneness’, where the car is merely an extension of the driver.

Zoom-Zoom

Possibly Mazda’s most popular marketing slogan, established in 2000 and trickle fed through many further campaigns to help them become the well-recognised household brand they are today.

It’s fair to say that Mazda likes to do things a little differently. They make strong, bold choices, and aren’t afraid to put their efficient larger engines in their cars where other marques are working on smaller, on-trend turbocharged options.

Mazda: easy on your pocket—fun on the roads

The current UK range includes models to include tourers, SUVs and the ever-popular MX-5 convertible. Despite often seemingly going against the grain of motoring trends, Mazda makes cars that are affordable to buy, economical to run and great fun to drive.

Mazda’s reliability and reputation

Mazda ranked a respectable joint 11th out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. Many of the top 10 positions were taken by Japanese and Asian manufacturers, so Mazda’s 94.6% efficiency rating, while favourable, wasn’t quite as high as some of their neighbouring competition.

Recent Mazda recalls and reliability issues

Various recalls have been made on Mazda models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.

21/05/2019 – Mazda 3 (2015–2017)

Windscreen wipers may become inoperable

20/02/2019 – Mazda MX-5 (2016–2018) Automatic transmission may unexpectedly downshift

19/11/2018 – Mazda 2 (2007–2014) Mazda CX-7 (2007–2009) Mazda RX-8 (2003–2010) Mazda BT-50 (2006–2011)

Takata passenger airbag inflators may not operate as intended

19/11/2018 – Mazda 6 (2007–2010)

Passenger airbag inflators may not operate as intended

01/10/2018 – Mazda 2 (2018)

Incorrect purge valve bracket

30/09/2018 – Mazda 6 (2002–2007)

Takata passenger airbag inflators may not operate as intended

17/09/2018 – Mazda 3 (2012–2016) Mazda CX-5 (2012–2016) Mazda 6 (2012–2016)

Vacuum pump may wear prematurely

17/09/2018 – Mazda CX-5 (2012–2016) Mazda 6 (2012–2016) Mazda 3 (2012–2016)

Fuel injector software does not control the electric current correctly

All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.