Timing belts are one of those components in a car that you want to be proactive with.  Timing belt replacement should happen about every 60,000 to 80,000 miles and may be included in your vehicle’s manufacturer recommended maintenance schedule, but not always.  And timing belts don’t give the driver any sort of warning, like a squeak or a smell, to signal that it’s time to replace it.  That’s why we recommend drivers be proactive in timing belt replacement; if the timing belt breaks while you’re driving, it isn’t really a roadside repair and will leave you stranded.

While some vehicles have a timing chain which will (theoretically) last the lifetime of your car, truck, or SUV, most vehicles have a toothed timing belt made from rubber.  This rubber will degrade over time until it eventually breaks.  Unfortunately, most timing belts are not easily visible just by looking under the hood, so they should be checked periodically by a mechanic to help you decide when the best time for replacing the timing belt will be.  60,000 to 80,000 miles is a good rule of thumb, but there is no true alternative to a physical inspection performed by a qualified mechanic.

Timing belt replacement is a labor-intensive automotive repair, so when we replace it, we recommend replacing a few other components at the same time to save you the labor cost of having to open everything up a second time.  With the timing belt, it’s a good idea to have checked and be prepared to replace the water pump, pulleys, and oil pump.  These parts are usually cheaper than the labor charge to simply get to them, which is why we recommend being prepared to replace them which you have the timing belt replaced.  Every car is different and we’re always happy to talk to you about preventative automotive repairs.

The mechanics and technicians at Allegiance Automotive in Paso Robles, California are here to answer your automotive repair questions and want to help you make informed decisions about the repairs to your car, truck, or SUV to make is safely from Point A to Point Z and everywhere in-between!