Timing Belt Replacement Cost

The cost of replacing a timing belt generally depends upon the local labor charges, purchase cost, and the time required to remove the old timing belt and replace it with a new one, which can vary from 2 to 5 hours depending on your car model.

The average timing belt replacement cost can be anywhere between $300 and $1,000. Some mechanics will charge you at an hourly basis, while others will charge you for the job to be done as a whole. Sometimes, vehicles also require the maintenance of other parts when replacing the timing belt.

You can save a lot of money by doing the work yourself. It sure is a time-consuming process, but will be totally worth it as you'll end up saving around $200.

Generally, a timing belt works well for a very long period. However, over a period of time, you need to replace it. Now you may ask, how to know that your vehicle needs a timing belt replacement. More often than not, the belt needs to be replaced anywhere between 60,000 to 100,000 miles.

To avoid complete breakdown or engine failure, it is advisable to replace it after the time or distance as recommended by the manufacturer. But besides this, there are actual symptoms that you can see when the working of a timing belt goes wrong. These are easily recognizable.

It is not necessary that your vehicle will show all the following symptoms. One symptom seen for a prolonged time should be sufficient enough to get the timing belt checked and replaced by a professional. Here are some such symptoms.

Most cars that render a very good mileage suffer from the problem of ignition when the timing belt is damaged. The car does not start quickly and you have to hold the key for a long time to start the vehicle.

You can feel your vehicle shaking. Well, not due to an earthquake, but very much because the timing of the belt has gone wrong! The timing with the pistons and valves is set very accurately. However, if there's an internal or external damage to the belt, then the timing might go wrong and the car might tremble when in operation.

Excessive firing, exceeding the quantity of exhaust, can cause problems to your car. Look for any damage to the timing belt. This might be the reason behind it.

Hot weather can sometimes damage timing belts that are made of rubber. As a result, your car engine might overheat and also start leaking. In such cases, you are left with no option other than replacing the timing belt.