Timing belt replacement after an engine fault
A broken belt or a belt that has skipped teeth can put the engine out of time. Before quoting for a new belt, it is worth establishing why it failed and whether the engine was damaged when it happened.
What happens if timing is lost?
On some engines the valves can meet the pistons if they move out of sync. What happened at the time and how the engine is designed both matter. If it stopped abruptly and a belt failure is suspected, avoid further attempts to start it and get advice before moving the car.
What may need assessing
Depending on the design, the assessment can cover the belt, tensioner, idlers and parts driven by the belt. If there are signs of internal damage, we assess the scope of the engine repair before proposing what to fit.
What to tell us
Say what happened, whether the belt was recently replaced and what any previous diagnostic checks found. If the type of fault is still uncertain, see engine timing faults.
Start by telling us about the fault
Open WhatsApp, review the suggested message and decide whether to send it.