Motorists are being warned they may face a hefty £800 bill due to a faulty part fitted in all cars sold since 2017.
According to The Express, Dave Harrison of 911 Auto Repairs in Sheffield cautioned: “The next big scandal – wet belts. They replaced timing belts with wet belts on a lot of models after 2017, supposedly they’re more efficient. But the wet belt is a big problem because it only has a 10 year interval and then it breaks. It deteriorates and it can stop your brakes working.”
However, if the belt breaks before the 10-year mark, manufacturers are unwilling to take responsibility, Harrison claimed. He added that repairs are not only more expensive but also more time-consuming, stating: “And when it does [break], it’s very difficult to fix. It takes twice as long as a normal belt to fix and it costs more to replace.”
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The timing belt comes in two variants: the dry timing belt, located outside the engine crankcase, and the wet timing belt or belt-in-oil, which is fully enclosed within the engine.
Harrison expressed his frustration, saying: “That’s one that makes your eyes roll when you see it – oh god, it’s got a wet belt. They say it’s better but it ends up costing double to fix or it’s unfixable and makes the car basically worthless.”
In the UK, the average cost to swap a timing belt, also known as a cambelt, ranges from £300 to £800, including parts and labour. Halfords clarifies: “Typically, timing belts cost between £250-£1,000. How much you pay will depend on factors such as vehicle type and existing damage.”, reports Birmingham Live.
“The best time to change your timing belt is based on your manufacturer’s advice. This could be anywhere between 40,000 to 100,000 miles. Timing belts come in all shapes and sizes. Use our free car part lookup tool to find the right timing belt for your car.
“If you don’t replace a faulty timing belt, it may snap, which can cause your car to come to a sudden halt and not function. Plus, it leads to further damage to your engine.”
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