Every vehicle has a cambelt, likewise known as the timing belt, or a timing concatenation. Your automobile wouldn't run without information technology, but information technology is cached deep within the engine, so many of us don't know much about it. Which could show costly if you cease upwardly needing a timing belt replacement. The last affair y'all need is a cambelt failure considering it can cause serious harm to the balance of your engine. However, yous can significantly reduce the risk by following the manufacturer's replacement guidelines. By the stop of this commodity, you will understand:

  • What a cambelt/timing chugalug & timing chain are (including how y'all tin tell the difference)
  • What the cambelt does
  • The average UK timing belt replacement toll
  • The recommended mileage to modify your timing belt
  • How to tell when yous're due a timing belt replacement

What is a Cambelt/Timing Belt?

The cambelt is a safety belt with teeth, with nylon-reinforced cords to provide actress strength. It sits in the front of your engine bay and synchronises the movement between the camshaft and crankshaft. toothy rubber belt with various tensioners on white background The timing chugalug assembly contains several parts. These are:

  • The belt itself
  • Tensioners and pulleys
  • Drive belts
  • Seals
  • A h2o pump

  Over fourth dimension, the cambelt stretches and becomes less efficient. This ways that when a cambelt reaches the end of its life, information technology can snap violently. If this happens while driving, you lot can suffer severe engine damage. That's why looking after your cambelt is so important.

What is a Timing Concatenation?

A timing concatenation looks like a linked cycle chain and requires lubricant to work. The teeth grab onto the different wheels and gears to power your engine. Hydraulic tensioners keep information technology taut, using your engine oil force per unit area to do so. Your timing chain tin have one, two or three chain links. The more links it has, the more teeth and gears it has as well. It requires less maintenance than a cambelt and is less likely to snap at the end of its life. Still, if your oil force per unit area falls too low, the tensioners will fail and the concatenation will become slack. This will eventually cause considerable engine damage. close up image of timing chain, linked metal chain attached to car engine

Does my car take a cambelt or timing concatenation?

Many popular United kingdom models characteristic a timing concatenation instead of a timing belt. These include:

  • Audi A3 & A4
  • All BMWs since 1993
  • Citroen C1, C3 & DS3
  • Dacia Sandero
  • Ford Fiesta & Focus
  • Honda Jazz & Civic
  • Hyundai i10, i20 & i30
  • Kia Rio, Picanto & Ce'ed
  • Mazda 2, iii & MX-5
  • All Mercedes
  • All MINIs
  • Nissan Qashqai, Note & Juke
  • Renault Twingo, Clio & Megane
  • Toyota Aygo, Yaris & Prius
  • Vauxhall Corsa, Astra & Zafira

HonestJohn has a much more comprehensive list, and also includes which engines use a timing chain.   However, at that place are easier means to check this for yourself. Your vehicle handbook may tell you whether your vehicle uses a cambelt or timing chain. If not, you tin follow this unproblematic test. Open the bonnet and inspect your engine. If you tin can see a plastic cover on the right- or left-hand side of your engine, your car uses a timing belt. If in that location is no plastic on the side, your car uses a timing chain. Still tin't tell whether your vehicle has a timing chugalug or timing chain? Then volume a cambelt bank check with one of our UK garages to get a professional opinion. Yous'll besides become peace of listen nigh the quality of your cambelt.

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What does a Cambelt Do?

The cambelt regulates the combustion process past synchronising your crankshaft and camshaft which, in plough, open up and shut the cylinder valves. These influence the timing and power of your engine. Without the cambelt, the engine can't run. Its principal job is to ensure that everything happens in the right sequence. The cambelt also lets fuel and air into the cylinder valves and keeps the pistons moving up and down at the correct time. If the timing is off, yous can endure thousands of pounds worth of engine damage. If your auto suffers cambelt failure, you lot're likely to need new valves, pistons and other expensive engine parts. Without the cambelt, these parts will boom together more than 100 times a minute, causing irreversible impairment.

How Much Does a Timing Belt Replacement Cost?

The boilerplate United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland timing chugalug replacement cost is £350. However, the cost tin can range between £200 and £1,200! Two reasons touch on your timing belt cost:

  • The garage you cull. Labour rates vary across the U.k. and, as this repair takes 3-6 hours, expensive labour costs will significantly increment the toll.
  • The brand and model of vehicle. A timing belt replacement costs more for a Mercedes or Jaguar than a Ford, VW or Vauxhall.

The bodily parts don't cost that much. A timing belt kit costs around £100 and includes everything y'all need to alter the belt. Still, y'all should not attempt the repair unless you lot're an experienced mechanic. The cambelt is so important that a botched repair could ruin your car altogether. The best thing to exercise is find an practiced garage most y'all to wait after your cambelt.

Protect Your Cambelt With Regular Maintenance

The best manner to protect your cambelt is through frequent servicing. While information technology tin can be difficult to perform a visual check on a cambelt (since it'south so well hidden in the engine), a BookMyGarage service includes a check of the timing chugalug intervals. If yours is due a change soon, they will advise you. There is no requirement to bank check the cambelt during an MOT, but mechanics may notice a cambelt fault as part of the inspection. You should also book an annual cambelt check. This dedicated inspection volition check the condition of your timing belt and ensure it is withal good for you. You can book a cambelt bank check on its ain, or alongside your regular MOT or service.

How to Relieve Coin on Your Cambelt Change

Compare garages virtually you with BookMyGarage and then volume your date in just 3 steps!

  1. Enter your reg and postcode and select the services yous need
  2. Compare instant prices from garages near you and click 'Book Now' with the best deal
  3. Select a date and time for your appointment that suits you and enter some basic contact information. This is and then that the garage tin keep in touch on with you during the engagement.

We aid you find the best timing chugalug replacement cost near you, so yous ever save on your auto maintenance. Plus, you take total control over your booking. Filter by reviews, altitude, availability or toll to find the perfect garage nigh yous. In that location's no sign-up, hidden extras or up-front payment either. Take the hassle out of your auto maintenance. Book your next cambelt change through BookMyGarage today.

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What is the recommended mileage to modify the timing belt?

You lot should volume a timing belt replacement every forty,000 - 100,000 miles or every 4-6 years. Some manufacturers recommend dissimilar intervals, so yous may need to check your vehicle handbook to detect out when yours is due. As always if y'all notice a problem, yous should book an inspection equally shortly every bit possible.

Timing Belt Warning Signs

Despite the importance of the timing belt, it doesn't give much warning at the cease of its life. Some timing belt alert signs include:

  • A rattling dissonance or high-pitched audio when the engine is idling or just later on you switch it on
  • Your motorcar will struggle to start, or won't outset at all
  • Car vibrates and overheats a lot
  • Your car is leaking oil
  • A glazed, glossy cambelt underside
  • Cracked or fraying cambelt

If you discover any of these warning signs, you should book a cambelt change immediately.

close up of glossy cambelt, shiny rubber belt attached to engine in engine bay
It's worth checking your cambelt regularly to mensurate its condition and go on on pinnacle of any signs of failure.

Timing Chain Warning Signs

While your timing chain needs less direct care than a cambelt, it can notwithstanding develop problems. These are unremarkably linked to an issue with the oil pressure or oil level. Common warning signs include:

  • A misfiring engine while driving
  • Metal shavings in the oil
  • Engine rattling while idling

If you lot notice any of these alert signs, you should stop driving immediately. Contact your recovery provider and have them tow you to a garage for a timing chain inspection.

Compare garages near you lot to find the best timing concatenation replacement toll in your area

How long Does the Timing Concatenation Last?

A timing chain can concluding more than 200,000 miles when looked after well. As it is made of metal, it has much more longevity than a timing chugalug. While you may never need a timing chain replacement, you should book a bank check when your car reaches 125,000 miles and invest in regular oil changes to keep information technology well-lubricated.

Book a Water Pump Replacement Aslope a Cambelt Change

A water pump circulates h2o in your engine, keeping information technology from overheating.

old and new car water pump side by side with engine bay in background during water pump replacement
The old water pump is in the mechanic's paw and the new h2o pump resting on the engine.

Booking a h2o pump replacement and cambelt alter together saves you time and money. Both components last roughly the same amount of time, are hard to replace and sit in the same office of the engine. If you supervene upon them separately, yous're effectively doubling downwards on the toll. To find the best price on a cambelt and water pump replacement near y'all, enter your reg number and postcode into BookMyGarage to compare instant prices and volume with the all-time garage in your area.

Water Pump Replacement Cost

The average U.k. cambelt and water pump replacement cost is £383.fifty, according to Checkatrade.

Recap

A cambelt, as well chosen a timing chugalug, regulates your engine's timing. Information technology controls combustion and can crusade very expensive damage when it fails. A timing belt replacement will usually price around £350 in the UK, but labour rates and the car you drive can increase/decrease this. You should book a cambelt change every xl,000 - 100,000 miles or 4-half-dozen years or as per the manufacturer recommendations in your vehicle handbook.