Timing Belt Replacement

Some cars have timing belts, some don’t. Those that don’t use belts utilize a metal chain to accomplish the same thing. In either case, the belt or chain is used to drive the camshafts that open the valves to let fuel/air in and exhaust out. The belt not only drives the cams, it also synchronizes the cams with the crankshaft to open and close the valves at exactly the right time. In most cases, the belt also drives the water pump.

Timing belts are made of very durable material, but they do deteriorate over time and most auto manufacturers recommend changing the belt at intervals of 90 to 105 thousand miles. Age is also an issue; if your mileage is low, but the car is over 10 years old, you should plan on changing the timing belt. There is no practical way to inspect or check the condition of the timing belt.

What happens if the timing belt breaks? The car stops running immediately. The majority of engines today are what is referred to as “interference” engines and, if the belt breaks, the valves and pistons interfere with each other, a mild way of saying the metal parts crash together, bending valves and causing other major damage. If you call us for a quote on repairing an engine on which the timing belt is broken, expect to be told that it may run into the thousands of dollars. So, if your timing belt’s time is up, do you want to gamble and risk major engine damage?

When we change the timing belt, we also change the water pump if it is belt-driven, and the idler and tensioner pulleys that run on the belt. A typical timing belt replacement will cost 7-8 hundred dollars, but some engines present more complexity that may increase the price.

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