Cambelts and timing chains
Cambelt and timing chain work. The interval is set by your car’s maker and is in the handbook.
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 6pm. Sunday closed.
When to book it in
You do not know when the belt was last changed.
The car has passed the mileage or age limit in the handbook.
You bought the car used and the service book is missing.
A rattle for a few seconds on a cold start, which can mean a stretched timing chain.
Worth knowing before you book
A belt can fail without warning, which is why it is changed on a schedule and not when it shows symptoms.
On an interference engine, a snapped belt lets the pistons and valves collide. The repair can cost far more than the belt job.
The water pump and tensioner are often replaced with the belt because they share the labour. Ask what the price includes.
What the MOT does and does not cover
The MOT does not check your cambelt. There is no inspection item for it anywhere in the test.
DVSA MOT inspection manual
GOV.UK says the test does not cover the condition of the engine, the clutch or the gearbox, and does not check the general mechanical condition of the vehicle.
GOV.UK, car parts checked at an MOT
The interval for your engine is in your vehicle handbook, and it is the manufacturer who sets it. It differs substantially between engines, makes and model years, so nobody can give you a reliable figure without knowing which engine you have.
Vehicle handbook
Book it in, or ask us first
We are at 19 Dane Road, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK1 1JQ.