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A cambelt is also known as a timing belt, and it’s one of the most crucial elements of your car’s engine. It is designed to keep the bottom half of the engine (pistons and crankcase) in sync with the top half (valves and cylinder head).
The cambelt will wear and stretch over time and as such requires periodic replacement. This interval is specific to each and every manufacturer and model. If this item is neglected it can eventually lead to the part failing or snapping. If this happens, the internal components will no longer be working in sync, and instead will be causing serious damage.
This is why it is important to have your cambelt checked and replaced at regular intervals.
A timing chain looks a little bit like a bicycle chain and performs the same role. Check your owner’s manual or speak to our team to check whether your car has a cambelt or a timing chain.
A timing chain is unlikely to stretch and snap, but can become slack if oil pressure falls low and tensioners fail. This will cause similar damage to a cambelt snapping.
The answer to this depends on your car. Most manufacturers recommend age or mileage intervals.
Each manufacturer has different itervals for each model and engine. You will usually be able to find this information in your handbook, however to avoid confusion you can speak to our team to find out the exact interval for your make and model.
Some belts are due as often as every 3 years, others after 12 years or 125,000 miles.
There is no way to tell and that is why it is important to call to find out when your cambelt is due.
A cambelt is not covered under most warranty policies as it is classed as a wear and tear item.
The only time the cambelt may be covered under your warranty is if it is found to have a manufacturer’s defect.
A cambelt is not checked as part of a regular MOT. We recommend ensuring you book a separate check to ensure everything is in working order.
That being said, there is no way to determine when a cambelt was last changed by looking at it. If you do not have the relevant paperwork to tell you when the timing belt was last changed on your vehicle then the safest bet would always be to replace it.
A timing belt replacement is not a simple job and dedicated tooling can be required. this job should not be attempted at home, as any small error could result in irreversible engine damage.
Prices range from £249 however some maybe more depending on make and model.
The newer generation of "wet belts" can be particularly complex to replace, a process that can take up to 10 hours using numerous dedicated tools. Fortunately the replacement intervals can be quite long, however this is one item you do not want to neglect. Call us today with your vehicle details and we will give you a competitive no-obligation quote.
When considering quotations on cambelt replacement it is also important to make sure any prices include any ancillary items like tensioner pulleys or water pumps.
Whilst these items do not have a specific replacement intervals failure can cause unnecessary expense.
All of our cambelt quotations include replacement tensioner pulleys and water pumps if required. We want to ensure the job is done properly and save you money in the longer term.