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 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.
Peugeot
Peugeot is a French automotive manufacturer, initially founded in 1810 as a manufacturer of coffee and bicycles that went on to build internal combustion engine cars from 1890.
How popular is Peugeot in the United Kingdom?
With possibly its strongest model line-up in years, Peugeot is looking to turn around its current dip in vehicle numbers on the UK roads today. After a steady rise over the decade from 1995 to 2005, from 1.1million to 2.1million, the current tally has slowly dropped to a mere 1.8million—a strong total despite the depreciation in numbers.
A mixed range of sensibly priced cars
With 21 standard vehicle models available from the full Peugeot line-up, that’s a lot of choice when buying a car.
Without doubt, it’s their SUV offerings that are leading the way; the innovation and technology applied to these stronger models will hopefully be developed through the rest of the range, bringing them into line with what the buying public expect from their motoring today.
The modern Peugeot: executive styling in the making
Catering for city driving, Peugeot has smaller models available that include the 108 city car and the 208 supermini, next up is the 308 hatchback, and then the majority of the models in today’s line-up is their range of SUVs.
However, the 508 saloon, featuring fastback type styling, has grown into an attractive low-slung 5-door coupé. More cars like this could enhance Peugeot’s positioning away from the mid-stream and into executive status.
The historic and iconic Peugeot 205 GTI
It was in the 1980s when the 205 was introduced and seemed responsible for turning around the success of the company. The supermini model was applauded for its style and handling, which led to sales topping 50k units a year.
In 1984 the GTI was launched with a 1.6-litre engine; soon followed by a 1.9-litre model. The high-performance hatchback set standards in thrill-seeking for younger drivers everywhere.
Could the new range of SUVs be responsible for another similarly styled comeback for the French giant?
Peugeot’s reliability and reputation
Peugeot ranked 24th place out of 30 car brands in the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2018. Not the best by any standard, but certainly not the worst available if you’re looking for a trouble-free motoring marque.
Recent Peugeot recalls and reliability issues
Various recalls have been made on Peugeot models throughout their motoring history. The following are a list of the most recent in the UK and Europe.
28/04/2019 – Peugeot 5008 (2018)
The wiring harness on the voltage retaining device may have been inadequately tightened
26/04/2019 – Peugeot Traveller (2015–2018)
Excessive loading of the front suspension could result in loosening and eventual separation of the front wishbone lower ball joints
05/04/2019 – Peugeot Expert, Peugeot Traveller (2015–2018)
The vehicle’s air-conditioning compressor pulley could break and damage other components
30/03/2019 – Peugeot Expert, Peugeot Traveller (2015–2018)
The fastening elements on the steering mechanism are inadequate
30/03/2019 – Peugeot Expert, Peugeot Traveller (2015–2018)
The wishbone mounting brackets on the rear suspension system are incorrectly fixed and can break
08/02/2019 – Peugeot 208 (2018)
The steering column was incorrectly assembled on the shaft of the steering system
04/01/2019 – Peugeot 107 (2005–2013)
It is possible that the blue that adheres the windowpane to the rear door could come loose
07/12/2018 – Peugeot 5008 (2018)
The wheel fastening nuts may have been insufficiently tightened
All recall information sourced from gov.co.uk data.
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