Change your cambelt when your car maker says to: there's a set distance and a set age, and whichever comes first is the one that counts. The interval varies a lot from car to car, so the honest answer is in your owner's manual or service book, or we can look it up for your car.
Some engines don't have a cambelt at all. They use a metal timing chain instead, which usually doesn't have a set replacement interval. So the first job is finding out which one you've got.
What does a cambelt do?
The cambelt (also called a timing belt) is a toothed rubber belt inside the engine. It keeps the top half of the engine, where the valves open and close, in time with the bottom half, where the pistons go up and down. Think of it as the conductor of a small, very loud orchestra.
When it's in good shape, you never notice it. The problem is that it wears quietly, and in many engines, if it snaps, the pistons and valves collide. That can turn a planned belt change into a much bigger engine repair, or a car that's no longer worth fixing. This is why a cambelt is one job that's worth doing on time rather than waiting for a symptom. Often there isn't one.
How do I know when my cambelt is due?
- Check the owner's manual or service book. Look in the maintenance schedule for "timing belt" or "cambelt". It will give a distance in kilometres and a time in years.
- Look for a sticker. Many workshops put a cambelt sticker under the bonnet, often on the inner guard or the belt cover, with the distance and date it was last done.
- Check your service records. If the belt has been changed before, it should show on an invoice.
- Ask us. Plenty of cars on Auckland roads are Japanese imports with no English manual and no service history. Give us the make, model, year and engine, and we'll find the maker's interval for you.
Remember both numbers. A car that does few kilometres can still be due on age alone, because rubber ages whether the car is driven or not. A low-kilometre car that's mostly sat in the garage is a classic one to get caught out.
If you've just bought a used car and there's no record of the cambelt being changed, the safe assumption is that it hasn't been. Ask us to check before you plan any long trips.
Does my car have a cambelt or a timing chain?
Your owner's manual will say, and so will we.
A timing chain usually lasts much longer than a belt and often doesn't have a set replacement interval. It still relies on clean oil at the right level, so regular servicing matters. A rattle from the engine on a cold start can be a sign of chain wear and is worth getting checked.
What gets replaced with a cambelt?
On many engines the job also covers the tensioner and pulleys that hold the belt tight, and sometimes the water pump, which can sit behind the belt. Replacing them at the same time can make sense, because getting to them is most of the work.
It varies by engine, so we'll look at your car and tell you exactly what's included and the price before we start. Nothing goes ahead until you've said yes, in writing.
Cambelt checks in Albany
Our full service includes checking your cambelt due date, so it doesn't sneak up on you. See what our full service checks, or read about our car servicing. A WOF doesn't look at the cambelt at all: our article on what a WOF checks explains why. And if you're not sure when your car last had a service, read how often you should service your car.
Midas Albany is a family-owned workshop at 3C Saturn Place, Albany, looking after North Shore cars since 2004. MTA Assured, and the price is agreed before any work starts.
Call Robin on 09 415 6595 with your car's make, model and year, book online, or request a callback. Monday to Friday 7:30am to 4:30pm, Saturday 8am to 12pm.
FAQ
Are there warning signs before a cambelt breaks?
Often there aren't. That's why the change goes by distance and age rather than by symptoms.
How long does a cambelt change take?
It depends on the engine. Some take a few hours, some take most of the day. We'll tell you when you book.
Can you tell me when my cambelt is due if I don't have the manual?
Yes. Give us the make, model, year and engine size, and we'll look up the maker's interval.
Written by the Midas Albany team.