Timing Belt & Timing Chain Service
Timing belts and timing chains keep the internal parts of your engine moving together at the correct time. If that timing is lost, the engine can run poorly or, in some cases, suffer serious internal damage.
Most modern vehicles use timing chains, but some still use rubber timing belts that require scheduled replacement. If your vehicle has a timing belt, it is important to replace it at the manufacturer’s recommended interval.
At Clarke Automotive, we sweat the small stuff on timing belt jobs. We generally recommend replacing the related components while the engine is already apart, including the tensioner, idler pulleys, tensioner adjuster, and applicable camshaft and crankshaft seals.
Those smaller parts matter. For example, an old camshaft or crankshaft seal can begin leaking oil onto a new rubber timing belt, shortening its life and potentially requiring the entire job to be done again. A failed tensioner or idler can also allow the engine to lose timing.
Timing chains are designed to last much longer, but they can still develop problems with chains, guides, tensioners, or camshaft actuators. Certain Ford F-150 EcoBoost engines, for example, have experienced timing-chain noise and actuator-related concerns.
Our goal is simple: address the complete system, explain what matters, and help the repair last so you are less likely to pay for the same labor twice.