Timing Belt Service
Timing belt defined: Your timing belt is a hidden belt with teeth inside your vehicle’s engine. It is responsible for making your engine’s intake and exhaust valves open and close in precise time with your piston’s compression stroke. This keeps the inner parts of your engine in perfect timing—hence its name.
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you replace your timing belt somewhere between 60,000 and 105,000 miles. You’ll notice that’s a big gap—wait too long and you can rack up a seriously expensive repair bill. If your timing belt breaks, immediate damage to your vehicle can result. Check your owner’s manual or call us to find out when to have us perform timing belt service.
And here’s an automotive tip: water pump and timing belt changes usually should occur at the same time. If your water pump is driven by the timing belt, it should be replaced, since the water pump is a common part to wear down and start leaking coolant. It is also important to have the timing belt idler and tensioner pulleys inspected at the same time your timing belt service is happening because the bearings in these timing belt pulleys wear down and start to sound like an old roller skate wheel. If your vehicle is equipped with a hydraulic timing belt tensioner, be sure to have your timing belt tensioner inspected for leaks. If a fluid leak is detected around the seal of a hydraulic timing belt tensioner, it needs to be replaced as this is the key component to keeping your timing belt with the proper tension so that it doesn’t slip.
Please take a few moments and watch one of our videos below to visually understand the importance of having the timing belt replaced on your car.
TIMING BELT TENSIONER
TIMING BELT
WATERPUMP
What a timing belt change costs
Here at Chuck’s, depending on the make and model of your vehicle, changing your timing may also include a waterpump replacement at the same time. But when you compare replacing your aging timing belt to the cost of repairing a damaged engine (frequently upward of $3,000), the decision is a no-brainer: replace your timing belt before it breaks and sabotages your engine. Remember, if your water pump is driven by your timing belt, it’s important to replace while changing your timing belt.
If you think you have a timing belt issue or simply realize it’s high time to have your timing belt inspected by a pro, don’t delay—call Chuck’s Auto Repair today. We're conveniently located in North Seattle and in Shoreline.
Traisa S.
Seattle, WA
I took my car in for a timing belt change after calling around getting quotes. I went with Chuck's because the quote was right in line with everyone else, and the two people I talked to on the phone sounded nice and friendly. Once they got into my engine, they found other stuff that needed attention. I asked questions and they explained things thoroughly and in a way I could understand. I couldn't pick up the car right away, but the manager gladly came over to the shop after hours to get my car back to me. He went over the work in detail. It felt good to take my car for service there. Also, the bill is really easy to read. It's typed and clear. I'll never wonder 'what exactly was done here?', when I look back on old car repair receipts. Definitely going back!
