Timing belt replacement may be needed before they get too used to prevent costly valve damage.

Timing belt replacement might be required prior to they get too worn to prevent expensive valve damage. If the timing belt breaks while you are driving, the engine will instantly stop and you will be stranded and will need a tow. Also at danger are the valves of your engine. If the belt must break with the engine running, the pistons will hit the valves on some cars causing comprehensive damage. This occurs because the timing belt keeps the opening and closing of the valves exactly timed with the movement of the pistons in the cylinders. When the belt breaks the crankshaft continues to rotate for a few more seconds triggering the piston to hit the now fixed valves.