Timing Belt Replacement

The timing belt keeps your crankshaft and camshafts in sync. On an "interference" engine, which is most modern engines, a broken belt lets the pistons hit the valves, turning a planned maintenance job into a major engine repair.

Does your vehicle have a timing belt?

Many do, and many don't. Some engines use a timing chain that's designed to last much longer. Belt-driven engines include many Honda and Acura V6s, plus various Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, Subaru and Volkswagen engines. Your owner's manual lists the replacement interval, often somewhere between 60,000 and 105,000 miles or a set number of years. Not sure? Call us with your year, make and engine, and we'll tell you.

Warning signs

• You're at or past the manufacturer's interval (the most important sign, because belts often fail without warning)
• Ticking or slapping noise from the front of the engine
• Coolant or oil leaking near the timing cover
• Engine cranks but won't start (a belt may have already broken; don't keep cranking)

What we replace

A timing belt job means a lot of disassembly, so we recommend replacing the parts that wear alongside it while everything is apart:

• Timing belt
• Tensioner and idler pulleys
• Water pump, if it's driven by the timing belt
• Cam and crank seals, if they're leaking
• Drive belts and coolant, as needed

Timing chains and diesel engines

Engines with timing chains can still develop stretched chains, worn guides or failing tensioners, which often shows up as a rattle on startup or a check engine light for cam/crank correlation. Most diesel pickup engines use gear- or chain-driven timing; we diagnose and repair those too, on gas and diesel engines alike.