Cambelt / Timing belt advice

Most modern engines are fitted with a timing belt or cam belt. Timing belt replacement must to be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. Problems arise when vehicles have changed ownership or have stopped following the manufacturers service schedule.

A visual inspection of a timing belts is not sufficient, as due to their laminated construction, they may look serviceable on the top surface whilst the bottom or middle is deteriorating.

The answer is simple. If you don’t know when your timing belt or cam belt was last replaced it's a good idea to get it replaced as soon as possible.

If the timing belt fails, on the vast majority of engines, serious damage results - running into several thousand pounds if the damage is extensive.

Lots of people hear “timing belt change” or “cam belt change” and they stick their head in the sand and ignore it. They live by the philosophy that if it isn't broken don't fix it. Or they will look at the belt and say “it's fine, it still looks like new”. When they finally decide to go ahead and get it changed, they will decline the offer of a water pump because it's slightly more money and “my old one is still ok”.

Here at our Letchworth based garage, through lots and lots of experience (25 years worth to be exact), we can tell you the extreme importance of getting a timing belt AND WATER PUMP changed at the recommended intervals. We have put together some helpful tips and advice.

• A Timing belt is under an enormous amount of stress the entire time the engine is running
• Due to their laminated construction the belt breaks down internally long before it will begin to break down externally (making a visual inspection almost useless)
• When a Timing belt breaks it can cause severe internal engine damage!!!
• If a Timing belt breaks when an engine is at 2500 RPM, (average driving revs) the pistons could potentially hit the valves 22 times within a second
• The average cost of repairing engine damage caused by a broken cam belt is around 4 times more than the cost of the cam belt and water pump replacement.
• A water pump bearing is also under enormous amounts of stress.
• If they are not replaced they can leak coolant that can cause the engine to overheat
• When they break they tend to seize, which will often damage the cam belt and cause it to break

Not changing the water pump when a timing belt is done can cause just as much damage as not changing the cam belt at all. We always recommend to our Letchworth based customers to change the water pump at the same time. It only adds a small amount of a labour. But you can be assured that you are not getting a costly repair coming your way.