Cambelt

When should my cam belt be changed?

There is no hard and fast rule for when a cambelt should be changed since the specification of the belt, and the tension when installed, varies between engine models. You can check the recommended interval either in your vehicle’s service book or online, typically the intervals are both time and mileage based, whichever comes first.

There’s no quick way to check if your cam belt has been changed, so if you’ve just bought a pre-owned car over 10 years of age then it’s best to have it changed for your peace of mind

What happens if my cam belt fails?

If your cam belt snapped whilst the engine is running then the engine will stop running and will not restart. Some earlier engines are non-interference and a snapped timing belt won’t cause any damage, but 95% are interference. With these engines the valves will make contact with the pistons, bending or breaking them, leading to an expensive and timely repair. Typically it is cheaper to replace the complete engine 

Are there any other parts which need to be replaced at the same time as a cam belt?

We always change the cam belt tensioner and idler pulleys with every timing belt replacement, we also change the oil and oil filter on engines fitted with a wet cam belt.  We recommend the replacement of any wear and tear parts, like the water pump, which are easy to access whilst changing the cam belt, since the majority of labour time is the removal and refitting of the timing belt