How do you know if the timing belt and timing chain go bad before the car actually stops running? Are there signs to suggest this is going to happen. If your fuel sensor is going bad and is not caught in time can it cause these to go bad?
by 
Leslie Peak
ANSWERS: 7
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This is a professional auto mechanic speaking: First I'm not sure what you mean by "fuel sensor" I assume you mean the fuel sender and it has nothing to do with the timing chain or belt. With a timing belted engine there is never a warning sign most manufactures recommend replacing it at 60,000 or 90,000 miles. Old Timing Chain engines ussually do not give a warning but if the chain gets loose enough to hit the cover or block it can make noise.
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If you have a timing belt, check to see if there is any cracks or really bad ware on it. They have little spy holes on timing shroud. Use your logic in determining if you think your timing belt is ok.(although the longer you leave it on the more ware it will have and if you have 120k miles on your car and havent replaced it, it might be a good idea.) Timimg chains are a little diff. They will get loose and may nock or rattle if they are going bad. I am confused also when you say fuel sensor, I dont know if you mean o2 sensor but it is irrelavent to the timing system. The only thing a faulty oxygen sensor would do is give you bad gas mileage.
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First check owner manual for what is recommended. Some VW's tell you to change the belt at 60,000 mile. Speaking from personal knowledge, they mean it. Also if you were to put a timing light on the engine, and you got some very erratic readings when you changed the load a little bit. Might indicate a timing belt or chain problem.
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when timing belt or chain starts to stretch the car is usually hard to start
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In all reality it's tricky to know with the belt. The best method is to replace it at the intervals advised by the manufacturer. You can try checking it for cracks but due to it running over the pulleys all its life there will be marks on it which can be mistaken if you dont know what you're looking for. With a chain its easy.... it shouldnt really need replacing at all, however if you can hear a clicking/rattle when driving that seems to keep pace with the engine then it will need doing.
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No. Your fuel sensor will not affect the timing belt. The way you will know if your timing belt is slipping is that you will have trouble starting the ingine and it may misfire or sputter on takeoff...You may also lose power accelerating and going uphill...
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The car may go out while you are driving if it does happen. No starting (hard to start). Changing the type of oil may have an effect on the starting. For early indications you may have poorer fuel economy, occasional misfire, some sputtering. poor acceleration, very sloppy. A unintended downshift while accelrating. CMS Sensor or CKS sensor may have out the norm readings. Kncoking may occur. Most of the time it will go out while you are driving or when you start the car. It may be lose thus, creating noise. Do a spark ingniton test of some sort, to see if the spark plugs are firing @ the proper degrees before TDC. Cylinder balance tecting may benifit in determinig if it is a bad timing chain. The engine may shift or move more than usuall, making a squak or bump noise. Do an emmisions test if suspected poor fuel econmoy is off. Check Codes.
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