Don't Wait for It to Break
A timing belt is one of the few components where the consequences of leaving it are far worse than the job itself. On an interference engine, a belt that snaps lets the pistons meet the valves, and the repair moves from a service item to an engine rebuild. At Advanced Automotive Services, we carry out timing belt replacement to the manufacturer's interval for your engine, and we renew the tensioner, idlers and, where it's driven by the belt, the water pump at the same time. Reusing those parts to save a little is how a belt job ends up being done twice. Most vehicles due for a belt are also close to a logbook service, which we can combine. Call (07) 4033 6418 to book in Cairns.
What Gets Replaced
A timing belt replacement is really a replacement of everything the belt runs on.
- The belt itself. Rubber hardens and cracks with age and heat, independent of kilometres. Belts carry a time interval as well as a distance one for this reason.
- Tensioner and idler pulleys. These bearings wear at a similar rate to the belt and are often what fails first. A seized idler will shred a new belt.
- Water pump, where belt driven. Access is already open during the job, so replacing it then avoids paying for the same labour twice. A leaking pump also contaminates the belt.
- Seals and covers. Crank and cam seal leaks get addressed while everything is apart. Oil on a timing belt destroys it quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The manufacturer sets it, and it varies widely between engines, given as both a distance and a number of years. Whichever comes first is the one that applies.
A chain runs in oil and is generally designed to last the life of the engine, while a belt is a rubber component with a scheduled replacement interval. Chains can still stretch and need attention, but they aren't a routine service item.
The engine stops immediately. On an interference engine the valves and pistons can collide in the process, which usually causes serious internal damage.
