When does the timing belt needs to be replaced & the cost

Do you want to know when a timing belt needs to be replaced and what the costs are? Then you have come to the right place. We are specialized in problems with cars and in car damage and defects. In this article we tell you how many kilometers a timing belt needs to be replaced, how you can recognize that it is defective and what the costs are. First, however, we will discuss the operation of the timing belt.

What is a timing belt?

The timing belt is an essential part of the engine of your car. It connects the crankshaft with the camshaft.

In short, the crankshaft is responsible for driving the car. This is connected to everything that needs to move, mainly the gearbox, which in turn turns the wheels so that you can drive. The crankshaft is also responsible for moving the pistons in the cylinders, so that the gasoline or diesel can ignite and the engine can do its work.

The camshaft is connected to the valves. These must open and close at the right time, so that the fuel mixture is compressed (on closing) and the exhaust gases can leave the combustion chamber (on opening).

By connecting these two axes, a combustion engine can work as a harmonious whole. You will understand that timing is very important. After all, if the camshaft turns too fast, the valves open too early or too late, resulting in poor combustion. That is why they call it a “timing belt”, and a malfunctioning timing belt can damage the car.

Timing belt or timing chain?

Note: not every car has a timing belt. Some cars are equipped with a timing chain. The principle behind this is the same, but it works slightly differently. Wondering if your car has a distribution chain and what if it is broken? Read more about the timing chain.

When should a timing belt be replaced?

Distribution is a component that is usually preventively replaced after a certain number of kilometers. This is stated in the instruction booklet of your car and is well known at your garage. When you have your car inspected, the technician will indicate that it is time to replace the part. If you wait too long, your car will give you some signals when the timing belt is no longer working properly.

Symptoms of defective timing belt

• The engine makes crazy noises. A worn belt can cause a ticking noise. Especially when the engine is not yet warm, you can hear noises. However, this can also be caused by a low oil level, so check this before you have the entire repair carried out!
• The engine failure light is on. When something is wrong with your engine, a light will illuminate on your dashboard. The camshaft and the crankshaft do not run synchronously due to a malfunctioning timing belt. The computer of your car will indicate this with a light. This lit light can also indicate a large number of problems , so check carefully what is going on before you have it repaired.
• The car starts difficult and starts poorly. A worn belt loses its grip. Especially when it is cold, it will therefore slip. This leads to a difficult starting engine and poor engine performance.
• Your car has less power than normal. A slippery timing belt makes the engine balanced and unable to transfer its power to the gearbox and wheels. You will notice this as a loss in power and traction.

After how many kilometers does a new timing belt need to be inserted?

The precise number of kilometers after which the timing belt must be replaced depends on the model of the car. This is usually described in the booklet of your car. You can also assume that the belt will have to be replaced sooner when used intensively in urban traffic or when the car is used very little (and makes fewer kilometers in a longer period of time). Even a belt that is not properly tensioned will wear out faster. However, to give you an idea, we have listed the average mileage per brand for the replacement of the timing belt in the table below. Take this primarily as a guideline.

Can you continue driving if it is worn out?

There is a good reason why car repair shops replace the timing belt preventively. The costs for replacement are not included in the repair costs if the belt breaks while driving! That’s why we advise everyone not to continue driving with a timing belt that actually needs to be replaced.

As we just mentioned, the belt is responsible for letting the pistons and valves work together. The timing belt has a timing function: it ensures that the valves open and close at exactly the right moment and that the piston lowers when the valve is open. If it breaks, this system will no longer work and everything will stop rotating, leaving you standing still along the side of the road.

Even worse is that there is a good chance that pistons and valves will strike against each other, because their movement is no longer controlled. When this happens the consequences cannot be foreseen and in practice this often means that a new engine has to be added: a very expensive joke!

The costs for replacing a timing belt

The costs for replacing a timing belt range from around 250 to more than 1,000 euros. The costs mainly depend on the make and model of your car and where you have the repair carried out. In general, repairs at a brand dealer are more expensive than the same repairs at a general garage, because of the higher wages that people charge there. Repairs to a diesel engine are also more expensive, because the water pump will often be replaced as well.

Costs of replacing timing belt per model