Timing Belt Replacement

How Much Does a Timing Belt Replacement Cost?

For your engine to work as it should, it requires exact timing. Everything must move and engage precisely when and where it's intended to - from the camshaft that begins the combustion process through to the crankshaft that turns piston movement into the power that drives your car.

To make sure this is the case, most vehicles have a timing belt (sometimes known as a cambelt) - and this keeps the timing process exactly right. The trouble is, your car's timing belt isn't designed to last forever - and if it breaks, the damage to your car can be extremely serious.

This is why it's important to understand a little about when a timing belt replacement will be required - and how much it will cost to replace when it's time.

We've covered everything you need to know in this guide. And don't worry - if you need to replace a timing belt on your vehicle, we'll explain how to make sure you get the very best deal from mechanics near me.

How much does a timing belt cost?

Like a head gasket repair, a timing belt replacement is one of those jobs that involve more labour costs rather than parts costs.

The bill for a replacement timing belt will usually start around $600 - with around 60% of that cost representing your mechanic's time.

Of course, this is assuming your timing belt is simply scheduled for replacement and hasn't broken. Since a snapped timing belt can have huge knock-on effects and seriously damage other components within your vehicle's engine, this price will often go up significantly if your timing belt breaks.

Whatever your timing belt needs - don't panic. We'll ensure you get quotes from mechanics near you - including mobile mechanic quotes - so you can get your car back on the road as cost-effectively as possible.

What are timing belts?

A timing belt is another one of those engine components that looks fairly simple but has an essential job. It's usually a black coloured rubber belt with teeth on the inside.

Although timing belts last for a long time - they don't last forever. When you check your manufacturer recommendations around servicing intervals, you'll often see that major services involve a timing belt replacement.

Timing belt's aren't to be confused with timing chains. Although a timing chain does the same job - the gears it wraps around are different and the two parts are not interchangeable. Most passenger vehicles use timing belts on their engines - but don't worry if you're not sure about how your specific vehicle's engine works, when you get in touch with a mechanic through Auto Hero, they'll know what your vehicle needs.

What does a timing belt do?

You've probably heard people say that a computer or ECU controls everything in modern car's engines. While this is true to some degree - an engine is still a mechanical item that needs the moving parts to synchronise in order to work correctly. This is where the timing belt comes in.

At the top of your engine you have a camshaft - a complex mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the engine's valves that control the fuel and air required to create combustion - as well as the venting of waste (exhaust) gases.

While the camshaft controls all these factors, it doesn't control the pistons within the cylinders that house that combustion - but it needs to be perfectly synchronised with the pistons so combustion happens at the top of the stroke - so they can be forced downward to create power.

To make sure this synchronisation is timed perfectly, the timing belt connects the camshaft and the crankshaft - the part that the pistons drive to create power.

If it sounds like a complicated process, that's because it is. If the timing isn't exactly right, your engine will not perform as it should. If the timing is significantly out, your engine won't even start. Worse still, if timing goes wrong suddenly, mechanical parts can collide and cause very serious damage.

What happens if you have a bad timing belt or broken timing belt?

Over time, timing belts degrade and wear. If they're not replaced when they should be, you run the risk of a snapped timing belt.

The trouble is, timing belts don't snap when your car is parked on your drive. They snap when they're under the tension that a running engine puts on them. This means that your engine (revolving at thousands of revolutions per minute) is suddenly thrown out of sync as you're driving along the road.

The best case scenario is that your engine simply stops running, unable to create the conditions needed for combustion. Of course, there's also a worst case scenario - and that involves extremely highly powered components suddenly colliding with one another. 

If this is happens, you can end up with pistons and valves that are bent or damaged, cracks in the engine block, or even pistons that leave the cylinders - destroying the complex cylinder head in the process.

When it comes to engines, words like 'bent', 'cracked' and 'destroyed' are ones you want to avoid - especially when you're moving. This is why an old, degraded, or snapped timing belt needs your attention as a priority.

What are some timing belt replacement warning signs?

Worried that your timing belt might need attention? These are some common signs to look out for:

Rough idling

When you turn your vehicle's engine on, it should sit and 'idle' without you applying any throttle. It will normally sit running fairly quietly with the rev-counter showing between 600-800 rpm.

If the rev-counter (tachometer) is going up and down without you touching the accelerator, it could be a sign that the timing is slightly out - and a possible cause could be a worn or failing timing belt.

Misfires

Misfires are when the timing process that synchronises the fuel injection process and the piston stroke are out of sync. Since cars have more than one piston (all of which move at slightly different times), the misfire often won't affect the full power of the engine - but it will stutter or be jerky as you accelerate.

If your car suddenly drops power for a split second as you're accelerating, it could be a sign that your timing is slightly out, with the timing belt as a probable cause.

Excess exhaust gases

It's sometimes hard to tell whether the amount of smoke coming from your exhaust is more than usual - but if you think you're seeing too much, it could mean that you've got a timing belt issue.

The camshaft within the cylinder head of the engine controls air entering the cylinder and exhaust escaping. If a worn timing belt causes this process to fall out of sync, then the combustion process becomes less efficient and more exhaust gases are created.

Low oil pressure

When a timing belt is worn or begins to fail, it can cause the parts it meshes with to become damaged. In the worst cases, it may cause fragments of the belt or camshaft to break off and end up in the oil pan of your car - causing a drop in oil pressure.

This is rare, but it does happen and can be extremely expensive to rectify.

Damaged valves and/or pistons

If we're being accurate, damaged pistons or valves isn't so much a warning that something could go wrong with your timing belt - more so that something has already gone catastrophically wrong.

You won't notice damaged pistons or valves when you get in your car to go to work - but, if you're looking at a car to buy and someone mentions damaged pistons or valves, this is likely to be a sign that there's been a timing belt issue last time the car was on the road.

What does the timing belt replacement process involve?

Replacing a timing belt is a complex process that typically involves:

• Stripping the front of the engine (or the side of transverse engines) to access the timing cover
• Removing the timing cover to get to the belt, pulleys, seals and water pump (also driven by the timing belt)
• Removing the timing belt and replacing it (along with any other components required or recommended - for instance the timing belt tensioner, pulleys, water pump, etc)
• Resetting the valve and camshaft timing
• Reassembling and testing the entire system

Don't worry if you're quoted for additional replacement parts

When you're quoted a price for a replacement timing belt, you'll almost certainly see other replacement parts mentioned - often a water pump, belt tensioner, and sometimes additional pulleys - idler pulleys.

It's natural to wonder if these parts are really necessary - but in this case, the answer is a firm "yes".

As you can see, accessing the timing belt involves a lot of work - hence the cost of your timing belt service far exceeds the cost of the timing belt kit. While the mechanic has access to the timing belt, it makes financial sense to replace these other parts - not least because they often fail around the same time as an old timing belt.

So, saving you a repeat visit and another large labour bill is one reason - but the on-going health of your new timing belt is another important reason to replace these parts. The life of a new timing belt can be reduced by as much as 50% if it's running around old components - meaning your next timing belt visit could be sooner than expected if you cut corners this time.

Need a timing belt replacement?

If you think there could be something wrong with your timing belt - or you just haven't had it checked in a while - it's absolutely essential that you have it checked out by an experienced mechanic. 

As you can see a timing belt problem can lead to catastrophic problems and costs, so it's something to avoid snoozing on. Get a quote from local workshops using Auto Hero. We'll save you hours of effort and connect you with the best mechanics near you. 

We're the most reviewed mechanical work comparison site in Australia - so you'll be able to choose a mechanic, safe in the knowledge that they've received real reviews from customers in your area.