The engines in most modern cars are equipped with a rubber toothed belt, the purpose of this is to run the camshaft which in turn opens & closes the exhaust & inlet valves in perfect timing with the piston position. This belt has varying replacement intervals which are manufacturer dependent (usually 60’000 miles or a maximum of 5 years). This is usually replaced as a kit including all tensioners, rollers & pulleys, we also recommend the water pump & antifreeze is replaced at the same time to prevent pump failures & duplicating costs.

The cost of timing belt replacement varies according to the vehicle but will always be a cheaper repair than belt failure. If the belt teeth strip, it jumps or snaps, then it will lose timing between the valves & the pistons causing contact between the two & resulting in damage, usually bending valves. This repair is usually economically viable provided the car is not too old.