A timing belt that snaps can wreck an engine, so it is changed on a schedule, not when it fails. MTS Garage Services in Hayes carries out the job on cars and vans.
The timing belt links the crankshaft to the camshaft so the valves open and close at exactly the right moment. It is made of reinforced rubber, and rubber ages. There is often no warning before it fails, which is why makers give a replacement interval in miles and years.
On many engines, a broken belt lets pistons and valves collide, causing damage that can mean a new cylinder head or a replacement engine. If you need timing belt replacement Hayes garages can handle properly, MTS Garage Services will check your vehicle's requirements and explain what is involved before booking.
The correct interval varies widely between engines, and some use a chain instead of a belt. Your handbook, service record or a quick lookup by registration tells us what applies. Both the mileage and the age matter, so a low-mileage car can still be due because the rubber has aged. If you have bought a used vehicle and there is no proof of the last change, it is sensible to assume it is overdue and have it done. Ticking, squealing from the front of the engine or oil leaking near the belt cover are reasons for an early inspection, though a belt can fail without any of these.
Much of the cost of this job is labour, because the front of the engine has to be stripped to reach the belt. It makes sense to renew the parts that wear alongside it while everything is apart.
The engine must be set precisely to its timing position before anything is removed, using the locking tools the engine requires. Once the old belt is off, we inspect the pulleys, seals and the area for leaks, fit the new components and set the tension carefully. The engine is turned over by hand to confirm the timing marks line up before it is started. Skipping steps or guessing the alignment is how engines get damaged, so we work methodically and explain what we find. We do not give timescales as they depend on the engine, but we will tell you what to expect.
Sometimes drivers come to us after a belt has failed. In that case we diagnose the damage first, because the outcome depends on the engine design. We explain whether a repair to the cylinder head is realistic or whether engine rebuilds and replacement are the sensible route, and let you decide. If you are in Southall, Uxbridge or West Drayton and unsure whether yours is due, call us or get in touch with your vehicle details, and we will agree the estimate with you before any work starts.
Call us on 0208 843 9091 or send the form below and tell us about your vehicle.
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Your handbook or service schedule will say. Some engines use a belt that needs periodic replacement, others use a chain that is meant to last longer. If you give us your registration, we can confirm what your engine has.
You can, but if the pump is driven by the belt it is usually sensible to renew it at the same time. The labour to reach it is the same job. A failed pump later would mean paying for the strip-down twice.
Often there are none. Ticking noises, visible cracking or oil contamination may appear, but many belts fail with no warning. That is why we go by the manufacturer's interval and the vehicle's age rather than waiting for symptoms.
We give you a clear estimate beforehand. If we find something unexpected, such as a leaking seal or a seized pulley, we stop and tell you before doing anything extra, so you can decide how to proceed.
Tell us about your vehicle and we will be in touch.
Prefer to talk? Call 0208 843 9091. Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM - 5:30PM, Saturday 9:00AM - 1:00PM, Sunday closed.
MTS Garage Services, 5 Chesterfield Way, Hayes, Middlesex, UB3 3NW