Also called cambelt, timing belts
This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.
A toothed belt that turns the camshaft in step with the crankshaft, and wears out, so it is replaced on a schedule.
History: facts, each with its source
Wikipedia says a timing belt, also called a cambelt, is a toothed belt that keeps the camshaft turning in step with the crankshaft, so the valves open and close at the right time for the pistons. Most are rubber, and some are polyurethane or neoprene.1
Every generation on the site whose dossier names it
Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.
What to check: Ask when the timing belt was last replaced, and look for a sticker or a receipt.
Wikipedia says belts wear over time, so replacing them at set intervals is recommended, and that a rubber belt gives no warning before it snaps. In an interference engine a broken belt can let the valves hit the pistons.
Sources 1
Wikipedia says replacing the water pump with the belt is often recommended, since it wears too and is easy to reach then, and a seized pump can break the belt. Belts are often sold in kits with the pump, tensioner and idler pulleys.
Sources 1
Shifterati