The AA issued an urgent warning to drivers this summer to check a “critical” engine component before long journeys.
Car experts have released their top tips ahead of Brits heading across the country and Europe on road trips.
To avoid breakdowns away from home, drivers should make sure their car’s engine is in good condition, and just a quick check of the timing belt can help avoid serious problems.
They said: “Timing belts (or chains) are critical components of an engine and failure can cause catastrophic damage.
“Regular maintenance, including timely replacement based on manufacturer recommendations, can prevent these problems,” said the Express reported.
The rubber belt drives a car’s camshafts that rotate in the piston engine, opening and closing valves at the top of each cylinder.
They draw air and fuel into the engine which, when turned on, powers your car.
Some cars have a chain instead of a rubber system.
But over time, rubber belts will degrade, crack and eventually break.
Replacing the belt usually costs around £300, but can cost up to £500.
Many timing belts are located inside the engine, which means it’s a laborious job to replace them.
Therefore, a major part of the bill will take into account the removal of various engine parts, which can be time-consuming.
The AA also warned that another common cause of breakdowns that drivers on long journeys can experience is dead or faulty batteries.
Motoring experts said 630,000 drivers would be stranded due to power outages in 2023.
In most cases, battery problems are caused by drivers who use their cars for short trips and the battery does not fully charge.
However, if your vehicle has other unusual symptoms, such as dim headlights, it could be a problem with the alternator, the device that charges the battery.
The AA’s warning comes after a growing number of drivers lost thousands of pounds after unwittingly giving personal details to fraudsters posing as their insurers.
Scammers target those who are in a car accident and try to find the insurance company’s phone number online.
They pay to appear at the top of Google, above the real insurance company’s website, and imitate the genuine web page so they look identical.
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