Timing Belt Kits

What is a timing belt kit?

The belt in a timing belt kit is an essential component of a car's engine, responsible for synchronising the rotation of the crankshaft and camshaft. The rotation of the camshaft and the crankshaft has to be in perfect time for the valves, pistons and other moving parts to work properly.

Timing belts are also called ‘toothed belts’ even if they do not directly provide camshaft timing. Here are some examples of what timing belt kits can be used for:

• Camshaft

• Balance shaft

• Water pump

• Injection pump

• Supercharger

• Oil pump

What comes in a timing belt kit?

Timing belt kits come in different packages depending on which individual parts you need to replace. Essentially these kits contain the following:

• Timing belt (please check if the belt is listed for the camshaft, balance shaft etc as exampled in the above list)

• Belt tensioner

• Deflection pulley (idler pulley)

• Water pump (option)

Some kits are available with water pumps as the water pump can also be driven by the same timing belt. Because changing the timing belt can be an expensive job and changing the water pump separately would likely involve re-timing the engine it is often worth changing the pump at the same time.

Always check the kit details to see what is included.

How do I choose the correct timing belt kit?

Choosing the correct kit can be tricky. These kits often are listed with ‘compatibility notes’ that provide extra information that you need in helping select the correct kit. Compatibility notes may include:

• Number of teeth on the belt

• What the belt/kit is for (i.e. Camshaft, Balance Shaft, injection pump etc)

• Euro emissions rating

• Engine number sequence (up to or after as specific number/letter)

• VIN (chassis number) sequence (up to or after as specific number/letter)

• Vehicle manufacture date (not to be confused with registration date)

What brand of timing belt kit should I choose?

Quality is paramount when selecting a brand to replace your timing belt. Brands such as Bosch have world renowned quality. Other brands such as Gates, INA, Febi and SKF offer long warranties showing the confidence these brands have in their quality.

How can I tell my timing belt needs replacing?

We would always recommend that you replace your timing belt in line with the vehicle manufacturers guidelines. If you are not sure when it was last changed it may be worth replacing now for piece of mind. A timing belt failure can cause significant and sometimes permanent damage to the engine. Some of the symptoms of a failing timing belt kit are:

• Ticking noise from under the bonnet when the engine is running

• The engine will misfire, will not start or stalls

• A visual inspection shows cracks or splits in the belt

• The engine does not rev properly