Timing belts
Protect your engine
The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft in step. If it fails, the damage to the engine can be severe and expensive, so replacing it on schedule really matters.
We replace timing belts with high-quality parts and reset everything to spec.
Not sure when yours is due? We’ll check the manufacturer’s interval for your make and model and advise you.
- Belt & kit replacementUsing quality parts.
- Set to specTiming checked and reset.
- Interval adviceFor your make and model.
- Quote firstNo surprises.
Why this one matters more than most
The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft turning in step, so the valves open and close in time with the pistons. Most modern engines are what is called an interference design: if the belt breaks, the pistons and valves occupy the same space, and the result is usually bent valves and damage that costs far more than the belt ever would.
It is a scheduled replacement rather than a repair. There is no warning noise and no dashboard light — a belt looks perfectly serviceable right up until it does not.
Belt or chain?
Not every engine has a belt. Some use a timing chain, which is designed to last the life of the engine and is lubricated by the engine oil — though a neglected oil change history can stretch one. Tell us the make, model and engine and we will tell you which yours has and whether anything is due.
What gets replaced with it
The belt runs over tensioners and idler pulleys that wear at a similar rate, and on many engines it also drives the water pump. Those parts are replaced as a kit, because the labour to get back in later costs far more than the parts do. We will tell you exactly what your engine needs before starting.
Timing belts: common questions
When is my timing belt due?
It is set by the manufacturer, by mileage or by age, whichever comes first — and the age limit catches out low-mileage cars. Give us the make, model and engine and we will look up the interval.
How do I know if mine has been done?
The service history is the place to look, and many garages put a dated sticker under the bonnet. If there is no record, the safe assumption is that it has not been done.
Are there warning signs before a belt fails?
Generally not, which is the whole point of replacing it on schedule. A rattle or whine from the belt area can mean a failing tensioner or pulley and should be checked immediately.
What happens if it snaps?
On an interference engine, typically bent valves and possible damage to pistons and the cylinder head. It is the repair the scheduled replacement exists to avoid.
Ready when you are