How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Timing Belt? 

Is your engine experiencing timing issues that have you worried about the cost to replace a timing belt? As one of the more costly — and necessary — repairs, many vehicle owners dread the day their mechanic informs them the time has come. After all, it’s just a belt, right? Unfortunately, no. 

Your timing belt is actually a critical component in the overall function of your engine and its placement and performance in your vehicle requires optimal operation at all times. In short, there’s a reason it takes time, labor and skill to make this replacement, all of which impact the overall cost. Let’s look a little closer. 

What Goes into the Cost to Replace a Timing Belt at the Mechanic?

Your mechanic includes the following when creating an estimate for the cost to replace a timing belt: 

1. Labor: Replacing a timing belt involves taking apart different areas of your vehicle’s engine. This may include removing other components to access your timing belt.
2. Skill: While there are several car maintenance tasks that can be completed by the average vehicle owner, a timing belt requires experience and technical knowledge to finish the job right. Your belt requires precision in timing and tension to ensure proper function. Entire sections of your car may  need to be disassembled or removed to access the timing belt and then reassembled and reconnectedwithout a single error.
3. Equipment: Anyone who has ever changed a tire on the side of the road or tried to fix their car in the driveway knows that the right equipment would greatly improve the speed and accuracy o
   f the task. An auto mechanic’s shop has every tool required to complete the task, the ability to lift or work beneath the vehicle with ease, storage for disassembled parts and designated equipment for testing the repair throughout the process and upon completion.
4. Parts: Parts can be costly if the vehicle requires special components. 
5. Liability: A responsible, reliable mechanic guarantees their work. While that may make a repair more costly than doing it yourself, it also ensures that if something goes wrong related to the repair, they will fix it. 

What Happens if I Don’t Replace My Timing Belt?

Unfortunately, a timing belt replacement is a very necessary expense (if you like your car). Once your belt has begun to deteriorate, you begin the waiting game for the day it fails — and it will fail. While many vehicle owners find the cost to replace a timing belt to be more costly than expected, the expense of not replacing it can be far greater. 

• Busted and bent valves. In some instances, a timing belt failure causes your camshaft to halt — but not the crankshaft. The crankshaft rotates and creates a misalignment where the valves and pistons meet. If your valves end up open during the wrong point in the engine cycle, the pistons may smash into them and bend them. This can also cause:
• Pistons damage. Pistons aren’t too fond of striking the valves, either. Getting smashed against a misaligned valve can be very damaging to the pistons
• Damage to the cylinder head from the bent valves. Bent valves can also create problems for the cylinder head, including cracks, gouges or deeper damage that requires repair.
• Overall engine failure. The worst case scenario for a busted timing belt is complete engine failure — the entire engine becomes the world’s largest paper weight. 

What About a Timing Belt Kit? Can a Kit Save Me Money?

Vehicle owners on a budget may be tempted to change out their own timing belt using a DIY timing belt kit. However, the ability to easily buy a kit does not make it any easier to replace the belt. Depending on the type of vehicle/engine, it can be a very complex task. 

This can include, but is not limited to:

• Removing the serpentine belt and engine cover
• Removing other vehicle components
• Setting the engine to TDC
• Removing the timing belt cover
• Adjusting the tensioner
• Removing the belt
• Inspection
• Installation
• Setting the tension
• Rotation and inspection of the engine crankshaft
• Reassembly
• Final inspection and test drive

What’s the Worst that Can Happen if I Make a Mistake?

We share DIY horror stories not to scare our customers, but to provide the real picture of what can happen if you are not meticulous in every phase of your at-home repair. There are quite a few critical tasks that must be completed in a timing belt replacement and forgetting or making a mistake with even one of those steps can damage your vehicle. We know — we see the results of these common mistakes in our shop quite often. Leave the work to the experts and avoid these common DIY mishaps:

Bad timing: Bad timing can reduce the power of your engine by limiting the efficiency of your car’s combustion. It can lead to misfires that cause vibration and slow down the engine. Your car will also be vulnerable to the same piston and valve damage that occurs. This will lead to expensive repairs.

Poor tension: Poor tension can cause your timing belt to slip off or make it so tight it stresses the tensioner or wears down the belt prematurely. Your engine may lose its synch, stall or overheat. 

Bad torque: Bad torque means bad acceleration, diminished towing capabilities and a general loss of performance and power. That’s a big deal in a state with so many hills for your vehicle to climb. Bad torque negatively impacts your transmission, too. 

Misplaced or forgotten parts: If you are not an experienced mechanic, it may be impossible for you to recognize when you have forgotten to reinstall a part or placed a component incorrectly. Depending on the part, you may have a minor repair or inconvenience. Or, you may be replacing the engine or buying a new car. 

Water pump damage: Water pump damage may cause your car to overheat. Unfortunately, it can impact how your car interior heats, as well as the performance of your defroster. Leaks, steam and smoke may occur under the hood. 

Engine damage: The engine damage can vary in a bad timing belt replacement. Forgotten parts, poor tension and other issues can result in expensive repairs or a complete engine replacement The average cost of timing belt replacement is much smaller than an engine replacement or a new car. 

Don’t Let Timing Belt Replacement Costs Prevent You from a Necessary Repair

If you have noticed that your car won’t turn on or the engine won’t kick over, higher exhaust than usual, ticking sounds or unusual revving patterns and strange surges on your RPM gauge that don’t match the vehicle’s action, your timing belt may need to be replaced. And if your vehicle is between 60,000 and 110,000 miles, you should seriously consider replacing it before it can cause a more expensive issue. 

Honest Accurate is here to help if you are concerned about your car’s timing belt. Stop in at one of our two Colorado Springs locations or give us a call to get more information.