After finding out that your car's timing belt is worn and needs to be changed, you may be thinking about replacing it with a new one yourself. You may believe that the job will be easy like replacing the fan belt and want to try to save money by doing it yourself.

However, there is a lot more involved than simply taking out the old timing belt and replacing it with a new one. There are a couple of reasons why you should forget about doing the work yourself and have a professional mechanic do it for you instead.

1.  Major Engine Parts and Accessories Must Be Disassembled Carefully to Reach the Timing Belt

One reason why you should leave replacing your car's timing belt to a professional is that there is a lot of work involved before you even reach it. Typically, the entire front end of the engine will need to be disassembled, and this is usually after accessory parts like the alternator and water pump are removed.

Not only will these parts need to be taken out and reassembled once the belt replacement is completed, but you would also have to be careful not to disturb the gears that attach to the belt that contribute to the timing of the engine. An auto repair technician will know exactly what needs to be removed, as well as how to remove it safely.

2.  Timing Belt Must Be Calibrated to Precise Settings to Make Your Engine Run Correctly

Along with massive disassembly of the engine and its parts, another reason why you should forego replacing your own timing belt is that it takes more than simply putting on a new one. After the belt is in place, it must be precisely calibrated to the settings required by the engine.

If the calibration is off, your engine will not run correctly. There is also a chance that it will damage other parts, such as the gears, gaskets, and water pump. A mechanic will know what the calibration settings are for the motor and have to tools set them.

Not only does replacing a timing belt involve extensive, careful disassembly of the engine and require precise calibration, but there are times that the adjacent parts such as the water pump will also need to be replaced. If you do not have the knowledge to determine whether this is needed, you may end up needing further repairs in the near future. Instead of doing the job yourself, take your car to an auto repair service near you to have a mechanic replace the timing belt and perform any other repairs that may be needed.