Servicing · 5 min read
Timing belt or chain: when does yours need changing?
The timing belt or chain keeps the top and bottom of your engine turning in step. If it fails on most modern engines, the pistons and valves meet and the engine is usually finished.
Belt vs chain
A belt is rubber-toothed and has a defined replacement interval, typically expressed in years and miles. A chain is metal and is meant to last the life of the engine, though in practice chains and tensioners on some engines wear early.
Some engines use a wet belt, running in oil. These need oil kept in good condition and have their own replacement interval — neglect shows up as belt material breaking down and blocking the oil pickup.
How to find your interval
It's set by the manufacturer for your specific engine, and it's both a mileage and a time figure. Low-mileage cars still reach the time limit — rubber ages regardless of use.
If there's no record of it being done and the car is old enough, assume it hasn't been.
Warning signs on a chain
A rattle for a second or two on cold start is the classic symptom of a stretched chain or tired tensioner. It's worth investigating early — the noise rarely improves on its own.
Why it's worth doing on time
Replacement is a planned job with a known cost. A failure is an engine, a recovery and a car off the road. The gap between those two numbers is the reason we push people not to defer it.
Bookings
Book your car into the workshop
Tell us your registration and what the car is doing. We'll come back to you to confirm a date.