Timing belt replacement in Caterham

Why the timing belt matters

The timing belt keeps the crankshaft and camshafts turning in step. On many engines, if the belt snaps, the pistons and valves hit each other, and a planned maintenance job becomes a major engine repair. Manufacturers give a replacement interval in miles and in years, and whichever comes first is the one that counts.

When is yours due?

Check the service book or the manufacturer's schedule, or send the make, model, engine size and mileage on WhatsApp and ask. If you have bought a used car with no record of the belt being changed, it is sensible to treat it as due.

Done outside your house

A timing job takes a good few hours, which is normally time without a car while it sits at a garage. With RDF it happens on your drive or at work. There is a photo of a timing job in progress on the homepage, taken from RDF's Google listing. For bigger engine problems, see engines and turbos.