How to Save Money When Buying Automotive Timing Belts

I always hear about the disadvantages of a timing belt and how it is a $300 job every few years or so, depending on miles driven. Other disadvantages include you being stranded with a non-running engine until the belt is replaced or the worst case of an essentially trashed engine from the valves crashing into the pistons or vice versa.

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Are there any real advantages to these compared to timing gears or chains? Are they better for fuel economy due to a lighter mass or is there any other practical reason for them besides getting you into the shop for a replacement or worst case a new car if you neglect them?

Conor

Not In My Opinion, Not To The Car’s Owner, Although Some Will Be Offered Here, I’m Sure.

I quit buying cars with timing belts several years ago, right after I wrestled my last one into my 3.5L Intrepid V-6, out in the driveway over a couple of days, purchased and home-made special tools and all.

They’re silly, really.

CSA

This topic has been beaten to death, and the consensus is that if there is an advantage, it really isn’t worth it.

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I think I am the only person to make a case for the advantages of a belt, and even I realize calling these items “advantages” is a stretch. In the end, the only real advantage is that replacing your water pump at the same time as the timing belt means your water pump will never get a chance to fail, and if you’re lucky, your mechanic might find and repair other items that might otherwise fail or cost you more money as a separate job, like a leaky gasket or seal inside the timing belt housing.

BTW, if you can really find someone who will do a full timing belt job for $300 (with the whole kit, not just replacing the belt), take advantage of that opportunity and thank your lucky stars. On many vehicles, timing belt jobs range from $450 (on my Civic) to $900 (on some minivans). You really should get the whole kit, which includes the tensioner pulley and sometimes other important items, depending on the model.

I see. I have heard timing belts slapping covers before as well as chains on the early ’s Dodge 3.9L V6 engine commonly used in the Dakota. Those Dodge engines all clack loudly at idle and I was driving a friends to get some parts at AutoZone. The AutoZone manager told me that I had a knock like a wrist pin or rod. I told them that they all sound like this and I don’t recall many of these engines catastrophically failing. That can’t be said for other Dodge engines such as the 2.7L used in Intrepids and similar. I am not a huge MOPAR person overall.

I got home and looked it up. There is some defect where the chains on the 3.9L slap against the inside of the timing cover and clack at idle/no load. They solved in the later '90’s and you can refit the older trucks with a timing set from the newer models if you like but most people just drive them.

Anyway, I am all for the chains myself as they seem to last the life of the vehicle. I was curious if the lower rotating mass of a belt might have increased response or mileage.

Conor

I’ve heard people say they’re quieter, but never the manufacturers. Usually it’s someone offering an explanation for why they’re used.

Bottom line; they’re cheaper. Fortunately, I think customer dissatisfaction has led to manufacturers not using them as frequently. It seems that everything new has chains.

Cwatkin, your comment about the greater mass is insightful. It’s true that lower mass needs less fuel to get moving, and since engines accelerate often in normal driving that would make sense.

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Its purely cost. When they were first used, new car buyers kept their cars about 3-4 years and the belt would last 4 years, so belt replacement was not a concern to the new car buyer. The manufacturer doesn’t make any money off the second owner so they are not concerned.

A first owners started keeping their cars longer, the manufacturers began increasing the life span of the belts through better materials. As long as the initial purchaser traded the car before the belt change was due, it was not a concern for the manufacturer.

It finally became a concern for the manufacturers when their customers began to hold onto the car for 10 years. Belts can be made to last that long by using more composite materials and silicone rubber, but it appears that it is cheaper to use a chain rather than upgrade the belt materials.

I have heard the “quieter” argument in relation to timing gears. My parents had a Pontiac LeMans V-8 that had nylon timing gears. The timing gears failed and steel replacemetn gears were installed. I couldn’t hear any difference in the engine sound. The Chevrolet my dad owned had some kind of fiber composition for the timing gears. Again, the argument was that these fiber composition timing gears were quieter. Chevrolets of this vintage with the “Stovebolt” 6 engines were known to have timing gear failure. Fortunately, these engines were not interference engines. The tappets in these old Chevrolet engines were often so noisy that any noise of the timing gears was drowned out anyway. r
Both the Toyota 4Runner V-6 we own and the Toyata Sienna V-6 we own have timing chains and I haven’t been bothered by noise from this set up.

I recently got a Geo Metro 1.0L 3cyl for gas mileage and it has a timing belt. The job on this takes like 1-2 hours to do by myself. That is a $35 kit with Gates belt, new timing seals, a tensioner/idler, etc. I went ahead and replaced the water pump which was also $35 at the same time.

Now these little cars are essentially the modern day VW bug if you can consider something 20-30 years old “modern” and are super easy to work on. Everyone says, “I bet that is a pain to work on with lots of small/tight spaces.” It is actually like working on an old pickup under the hood as it is easy to do just about anything. I can change an entire engine by myself in like 4 hours without a hoist. All I need is a car jack and a metric socket set!

Conor

A timing belt has its drawbacks but also some great benefits. A V engine with overhead cams, especially dual overhead cams, is much cheaper to manufacture but it is also much cheaper and simpler to repair than the chain drive model. Ford Windsor V 8s were notorious for tossing chains at 80,000 miles with manual transmission and 120,000 with automatics and even that simple, non interference engine required longer to replace the chain than a Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota or Nissan V-6 T-belt. And a Mazda 929 was an easy 2 hour job.

And let a Toyota R-22 chain slip while the head is off. That slip will cost you dearly. And BTW, check the flat rate time to replace the timing chains on a Jaguar 4.2L or Mercedes V-8.

Don’t let a functioning timing belt cause you to forgo maintenance – a quality timing belt can withstand so much, and are so well built, that it can be easy to tick over your km’s without realising you’ve passed your service interval. Ask any mechanic and they’ll tell you that the key to a healthy timing system is maintenance.

Following OE vehicle recommendations, and having your mechanic perform maintenance checks, is far more cost effective in the long run than leaving your timing belt installed until it breaks (and breaks your engine with it!). Neglecting regular maintenance, including the replacement of your timing belt, can lead to complete engine replacement. Repairing an improperly maintained vehicle timing system, or one that has experienced damage due to timing belt failure, can potentially set you back thousands of dollars.

With this in mind, have you been following your belt replacement intervals? If not, it’s time to book in with your mechanic so that they can assess your engine and belt condition. Gates Australia have teamed up with one of our Australian suppliers, Sparesbox, to bring you up to speed on five signs that it’s time to replace your timing belt.

1: Engine won’t start

If your engine won’t fire up, it is obvious something’s not quite right, but identifying the culprit can be challenging. Did you know that it could very well be a worn-out timing belt? If so, you should be able to hear the starter motor when the ignition is on, even though the engine won’t turn over. Unfortunately, your engine may already be damaged at this stage, if it is the timing belt causing this issue. We recommend you call your mechanic immediately, or, if you’re broken down on the road or in a car park, your insurance company (if you’re not insured, you can call to get your car towed to the mechanic).

2: Engine is making a ticking noise

A functioning timing belt (although, yes, it’s to do with timing!) should not make a ticking noise. If you notice a ticking or clicking sound coming from your engine, the source could be a worn timing belt. A high-pitched screech or whirring upon starting the engine, when you’re accelerating, or when you’re idling, may also suggest it’s time to change your timing belt. While the noises could be caused by a number of other issues, they are nothing to be idle about. We recommend you take your car to a mechanic for a full diagnosis to prevent engine damage.

Bonus Tip: If you also notice some engine vibration (not the good vibes type), in addition to or alongside a ticking noise, this can also be an indication of a worn timing belt and it’s suggested you visit the mechanic in this case, too.

3: Engine misfires and/or runs rough

Is your engine running rough (you feel it shaking or bouncing when idling, making unusual sounds, or has inconsistent RPM counts)? Though there are a number of potential causes, the rough days may end if you replace your timing belt. Misfiring can also potentially result from your engine’s timing being jeopardised; the worn or loose timing belt slips, resulting in the cylinders opening and closing prematurely. Misfiring is a serious problem that should be addressed straight away.  Ultimately, if you feel like your engine is running erratically, or it stops running all together, you should head to your local garage for help.

4: Car acts up between 2,000 and 4,000 RPM

If your engine has slow acceleration (it feels less powerful than it should, or used to be) when it reaches between 2,000 and RPM, is rattling, or is making an unusual sound when revving, it could be an indication that your timing belt is loose or breaking down from old age. This can also be caused by belt slippage during acceleration at high RPMs, which is another indication that your timing belt may need to be replaced, as some of the belt teeth could be missing. We recommend going to your mechanic immediately.

5: Engine exhaust fumes/smoke

If you’re noticing unusually heavy exhaust fumes, your timing belt could be the culprit. A worn timing belt overworks your engine, and the extra effort means that more exhaust is released. A large amount of excess exhaust is a strong sign that you may need to replace your timing belt ASAP. We recommend going to your mechanic and getting your engine checked before you continue to drive your vehicle.

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Whether or not caused by your timing belt, if your engine is showing one of more of these five symptoms, you shouldn’t push your luck any longer. Hand your keys over to your mechanic, or, for newer cars, your vehicle manufacturer, and save yourself some potentially serious costs. A broken timing belt can cause your engine significant, sometimes irrevocable, damage, especially if you have an interference engine, which are common in modern cars of today. Remember, prevention is better – and, let’s face it, cheaper – than cure.