Timing Belts & Wet Belts – Chester-le-Street

The timing belt (or timing chain in some engines) synchronises the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft so that the engine’s valves open and close at exactly the right moment. If it fails, the engine stops, and on most engines, the consequences of that are severe with bent valves, damaged pistons, and a repair bill that can exceed the value of the vehicle.

Wet Belts

A wet belt is a timing belt that runs in engine oil rather than in the dry. The design is found in a number of modern engines, including certain Ford and Vauxhall models. Wet belts have their own specific service requirements and replacement intervals because they’re not the same as a conventional dry belt, and they shouldn’t be treated as one. Neglecting a wet belt is a common and costly mistake.

When Should It Be Replaced?

Replacement intervals vary by manufacturer and engine. Some specify mileage, some specify time, and many specify whichever comes first. The interval can be as short as five years or 60,000 miles on some engines, so if you don’t know when yours was last replaced, that’s reason enough to find out.

What the Job Includes

A timing belt replacement typically includes the belt itself, the tensioner, and the idler pulleys. The water pump is often replaced at the same time, as it’s driven by the belt on many engines and accessing it later means repeating much of the same work.

We carry out timing belt and wet belt replacements on all makes and models at our Chester-le-Street workshop. Don’t leave it until it becomes an emergency.

A Hedley Motor Engineers is proud to be affiliated with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), and to partner with Payment Assist to give our customers another way to pay for repair bills.

To find out more about Timing Belts & Wet Belts in Chester-le-Street, contact us online, or call us directly on 0191 388 9066.

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