How long does the job take?

Most are a full day and some are two, depending how much has to come off the front of the engine to reach the cover. Sandy offers concierge service, rideshare and after hours pick up, so a vehicle staying overnight does not have to mean a day without transportation.

Is the timing belt checked during a safety or emissions inspection?

No. An inspection covers what can be seen and measured, and the belt sits behind a cover that does not come off for one. Sandy runs its own testing lane, and a clean pass there says nothing whatever about how many years are left on a belt.

Can a worn belt change how the engine runs?

One that has jumped a tooth will, showing up as rough running, weak power and a stored code for camshaft position. Short of that, a belt gives very little away from the driver's seat, which is the reason the published interval governs this job and not how the vehicle feels.

Should the tensioner and idler pulleys be replaced too?

Yes, as a kit. They turn whenever the engine runs and their bearings wear on much the same timescale as the belt itself. A seized idler will destroy a new belt and can take the engine with it, so leaving them for later is not a saving anyone comes out ahead on.

Sandy, Utah

Timing Belt and Chain Replacement in Sandy

10665 S 700 E, Sandy, UT 84070

Book Appointment (801) 566-8585

McNeil's Auto Care in Sandy with snow-capped Wasatch peaks behind the building

Timing Belt and Chain Replacement at our Sandy shop

The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshaft synchronised so the valves and pistons stay out of each other's way. At McNeil's Auto Care in Sandy it is replaced on the manufacturer's schedule, because this is the component where waiting to see what happens is the costly option.

If the engine is an interference design, a broken belt lets pistons hit open valves and the repair stops being a belt and becomes engine work. Belts rarely give warning: they do not slip or get noisy first, they simply let go.

A belt is rubber and toothed, with a life measured in years as well as miles, so a low mileage vehicle can still be due on age alone. A chain is metal and lasts much longer without being permanent, and a rattle for a second or two on a cold start is often a stretched chain or a worn tensioner.

While the belt is off, the parts behind it are accessible: water pump, tensioner and idler pulleys, usually driven by the same belt. Replacing them at the same time avoids paying the same labour twice, and we will tell you what your engine specifically calls for.

Sandy is an AAA Approved Auto Repair facility and the designated number one NAPA shop worldwide, with ASE certified technicians. Qualifying work carries a 36 month, 36,000 mile nationwide warranty. Book online or call the shop, Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Questions

Timing Belt and Chain Replacement in Sandy, answered

How long does the job take?: Most are a full day and some are two, depending how much has to come off the front of the engine to reach the cover. Sandy offers concierge service, rideshare and after hours pick up, so a vehicle staying overnight does not have to mean a day without transportation.
Is the timing belt checked during a safety or emissions inspection?: No. An inspection covers what can be seen and measured, and the belt sits behind a cover that does not come off for one. Sandy runs its own testing lane, and a clean pass there says nothing whatever about how many years are left on a belt.
Can a worn belt change how the engine runs?: One that has jumped a tooth will, showing up as rough running, weak power and a stored code for camshaft position. Short of that, a belt gives very little away from the driver's seat, which is the reason the published interval governs this job and not how the vehicle feels.
Should the tensioner and idler pulleys be replaced too?: Yes, as a kit. They turn whenever the engine runs and their bearings wear on much the same timescale as the belt itself. A seized idler will destroy a new belt and can take the engine with it, so leaving them for later is not a saving anyone comes out ahead on.

Speak to the Sandy shop

(801) 566-8585