How Much Does a Timing Belt Replacement Cost?

Replacing the cambelt in the right intervals is an essential step of responsible car maintenance. There can be a lot of work involved in this, which means it’s often one of the most expensive, too. When the time comes to get a quote for this service, you may wonder what a fair timing belt replacement cost is. If you’re thinking “Should I buy my car a new cambelt?”, then this article is for you.

In the following sections, we’ll look at the function of the timing belt, when to replace it, and the average price for parts and labour involved in a typical cambelt job. This will help you make a more informed decision the next time you bring your vehicle in, so you can avoid being overcharged.

What Does a Timing Belt Do?

The timing belt, also known as the cambelt, is a critical engine component. It is a rubber, toothed belt that drives the engine’s camshaft(s) from the crankshaft, ensuring they are always synchronised. What this means is that the intake and exhaust valves open and close at the correct time, allowing for efficient combustion. The correct timing is also needed to avoid contact between the valves and the pistons, which move up and down in the cylinders.

By the way, do not confuse the timing or cam belt with the auxiliary or drive belt(s). These belts are ribbed rather than toothed, and drive engine accessories like the alternator, air conditioning compressor, power steering pump, or engine cooling fan. They are usually cheaper and faster to replace, as they are external to the engine and much more accessible. Drive belt failure also won’t normally result in complete engine failure, although it can still leave you stranded.

How Do I Know If My Timing Belt Needs Replacing?

The timing belt replacement interval varies a bit, but most manufacturers recommend that you change it every 60,000-120,000 miles, or 5-6 years, whichever comes first. In some cases, it can be as little as 40,000 miles, and sometimes it can last as long as 10 years. Check the owner’s manual to know the exact recommendation for your vehicle. This maintenance operation is extremely important, so don’t overlook it. The result of timing belt failure is often extensive engine damage, along with a huge repair bill.

If you buy a car that’s over 5 years old, always check with the previous owner if/when they replaced the timing belt, and ask for the receipts. If there is no proof or if it hasn’t been done at all, make sure to include it in your budget, or negotiate down the price to reflect this. You can also ask your mechanic to remove the timing cover and visually inspect the belt for any cracks or a lack of tension. If in any doubt, it’s safer to just go ahead and replace it.

Also, keep in mind that not every engine has a timing belt – some use a metallic chain instead. Timing chains don’t normally need regular replacement, although sometimes the plastic guides can wear off or fail (usually due to poor lubrication), leading to rattling noises or other issues. Most manufacturers seem to favour timing belts these days, mainly because they are quieter in operation and cheaper to produce.

Breaking Down Timing Belt Replacement Cost

The cost to replace a timing belt depends on several factors, including the vehicle make and model, the parts used, as well as the shop or mechanic you choose to perform this service. In general, the total timing belt replacement cost is the sum of two things: material costs and labour costs. Let’s look at these in a little more detail.

Material Costs

The material cost has to do with the parts that will be replaced. It depends on things like:

• Which parts you choose to replace. The timing belt by itself is a relatively cheap part, usually under £50. However, the process of removing the belt is quite involved, so other related components (such as the idler pulley(s), tensioner(s), alternator and the water pump) are often replaced at the same time. While it’s not always strictly necessary to replace all these things, this is generally a good idea, and most manufacturers recommend you do so. The cost of a complete timing kit will typically be around £200, though it could be a bit more or a bit less.

• Quality of the parts used. You may opt to use Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, or aftermarket ones. These can range from cheap generic brands to high-quality suppliers like Gates, Continental, INA, SKF, and others. Most shops will arrange the parts and sell them to you at a markup, but some will allow you to bring your own. The key is to find a good balance between quality and cost. You know the part that comes inside a fancy box with the manufacturer’s logo? You can probably buy it directly from the OEM supplier at a much cheaper cost, if you know where to look.

• Make and model. Premium manufacturers often come with more expensive prices for their parts. There’s also the matter of economies of scale: parts for very popular models (or models that use common engines shared across several platforms) are much more likely to be available off-the-shelf and will generally be cheaper.

Labour Costs

Labour usually makes up the bulk of cambelt replacement costs. The process starts with the removal of the timing cover, accessory belts, and anything else that might be on the way of the old timing belt. Then, if the water pump is replaced, the surface is thoroughly cleaned to ensure a good seal from the new gasket. Finally, the new belt is carefully routed around all the pulleys and the correct tension is applied to it. The mechanic must also correctly align the timing marks on the gears, keeping the synchronisation between the camshaft and crankshaft at all times.

The total cost of labour is the result of two factors:

• how long the job takes. This depends mostly on your car – things like how much access is there for the mechanic to work within the engine bay, or the specific procedures involved. The parts you choose to change also have an impact on this. Replacing the water pump and tensioners along with the timing belt will add another hour or so to the service time. In general, you can expect to be quoted between 4 and 6 hours of labour for most timing belt jobs. This is a ballpark estimate, as it can just as easily take longer than 8 hours for some more difficult cars, or as little as 2 hours for others.

• how much the mechanic charges for their time. This depends on where the repair is done. An independent shop will charge a lower per-hour fee than the dealer. A good compromise is to find a reputable independent shop that specialises in your car’s manufacturer. This way, you can get dealer-level quality for a more sensible price.

Total Service Costs

Now that we know how much we can expect to pay in parts and labour, we can try to make a good estimate of the total service cost. Let’s see:

• Parts: between £50 and £300, depending on whether you get just the timing belt or the complete kit, as well as whether you use OEM or aftermarket parts.

• Labour: around £300 on average, assuming a 6-hour service at a rate of £50 per hour.

• Total cost: expect to pay around £450-£650 at an independent shop for a complete timing belt and water pump replacement. You could probably pay as little as £300 to replace just the timing belt on a popular model, or over £1,000 for a more complex job at the dealership.

Conclusion

Timing belt replacement costs can vary significantly between vehicles and shops. It all hinges on the parts being changed, the amount of work involved, and the mechanic doing the work. But, you can still have a pretty good idea of how much you should budget before your next scheduled maintenance. All you need is the information from this article and a little bit of research for your specific car.

Remember that the values here are estimates. Just because you have been quoted a higher value, doesn’t necessarily mean you are being scammed! So, ask around and compare prices until you find something that works best for your situation. Good luck!