Cambelts and timing chains
Timing belt, tensioner and water pump replacement at the manufacturer's interval — the one service where being late destroys the engine.
At a glance
- From
- from £389
- Time needed
- 4 to 8 hours
- Where
- Hambridge, TA10 0BW
On an interference engine, which is nearly all of them, a snapped cambelt lets the pistons hit the valves. The repair costs more than most cars are worth. This is the one interval that is not worth stretching.
The interval is whichever comes first — mileage or years. Belts degrade with age and heat cycles even on a car that barely moves, so a low-mileage ten-year-old car still needs one.
We replace the tensioner and idlers with the belt as a matter of course, and strongly recommend the water pump at the same time. It is driven by the belt on most engines, so doing it later means paying the same labour twice.
Before you book
Check what your car is already due.
The reg check tells you when the MOT runs out and what the last tester flagged. It often changes what you actually need booking in for.