Timing Belts (Cambelts) – Stanway

A cambelt, also called a timing belt, should be replaced at the interval set by your vehicle’s manufacturer, which is usually a mileage or a number of years, whichever comes first.

All Trans Autos replace cambelts on cars and vans of most makes, following the manufacturer’s procedure and fitting a complete kit so every part that wears is renewed together.

Why the cambelt is so important

The cambelt keeps the engine’s crankshaft and camshafts turning in time with each other, so the valves open and close at exactly the right moment. In many engines, the pistons and valves share the same space at different points in each rotation. If the belt snaps or slips, they can collide, and the resulting damage often costs far more to repair than the belt would have cost to replace.

When your cambelt should be changed

Intervals vary widely between engines. Some are due at around 40,000 miles, while others can go to 100,000 miles or more, and most also have a time limit, often somewhere between four and ten years.

The age limit matters as much as the mileage. A belt is made of rubber compounds that harden and crack over time, even if the car hardly moves. We see plenty of low-mileage cars that are overdue on age alone.

If you’ve bought a used car and there’s no record of the cambelt being changed, it’s safest to treat it as due.

Warning signs to watch for

Cambelts often fail with no warning at all, which is why sticking to the interval is so important. Occasionally you might notice:

• a ticking or slapping noise from the front of the engine
• a squeal from the belt area, which can also come from a worn tensioner
• oil leaking near the timing cover, which can contaminate the belt
• the engine misfiring or struggling to start

If you notice any of these, book a check before driving any distance.

What’s included in a cambelt replacement

• A new cambelt
• New tensioner and idler pulleys
• A new water pump where it’s driven by the cambelt
• Fresh coolant, if the water pump has been replaced
• A check of the auxiliary drive belt

Tensioners and pulleys wear at the same rate as the belt, and a failed pulley can take a brand new belt with it. Replacing the water pump at the same time makes sense on engines where the belt drives it, since the labour overlaps almost entirely.

Belt, chain, or wet belt?

Not every engine uses a traditional cambelt. Some have a timing chain, which is designed to last much longer, and others use a wet belt that runs in engine oil and needs a different approach. We’ll confirm which your vehicle has and what it needs.

Parts & guarantees

We fit cambelt kits of original equipment quality, using genuine parts where required. Parts are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, and our labour carries a 12-month guarantee.