On engines with a timing belt, replacing it on schedule is the single most important service you can do. A snapped belt on an interference engine bends valves and turns a maintenance item into an engine replacement. We do timing belt jobs with the water pump, tensioner, idlers, and cam/crank seals as a kit, because they all live in the same space.
Signs you need timing belt & water pump
- You're at or past the manufacturer's interval (often 60k–105k miles)
- Ticking from the timing cover
- Oil or coolant seeping from the front of the engine
- No record of it ever being done on a used car
What we do on site
- Confirm the interval and whether the engine is interference
- Remove accessories and timing covers, lock the cams and crank
- Replace belt, tensioner, idlers, water pump, and seals
- Re-time the engine and verify marks twice
- Refill coolant, run to temperature, road-test
Doing this in a driveway
We do timing belts mobile on common Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Hyundai/Kia, and Mitsubishi engines in a garage or covered driveway. Some engines (many European V6/V8s and transverse engines that require lowering the subframe) are shop jobs, and we'll tell you honestly.
Parts we use
Complete timing belt kit with water pump, tensioner, idlers, seals, and coolant.
Pricing: A significant job, but a fraction of what a bent-valve engine costs. Every job is quoted in writing before we start, and there's no upsell — how our pricing works.
FAQ
Timing Belt & Water Pump: common questions
Does my car have a timing belt or chain?
Most cars after about 2010 use chains that don't have a replacement interval. Many Hondas, Toyotas, Subarus, and Hyundais before that use belts. Tell us your engine and we'll know.
Why replace the water pump with the belt?
The pump is behind the belt, so the labor is already paid for. A pump that fails later means doing the entire job again.