A timing belt is rubber reinforced with cords, and it is meant to run dry. When oil from a leaking camshaft seal, crankshaft seal or valve cover gasket gets on it, the rubber can soften and swell. Coolant from a leaking water pump does its own damage. A soaked belt can slip, lose teeth or fail before the interval in your manual.

Putting a new belt on without dealing with the leak means the new one starts getting soaked right away. Several of those seals sit behind the timing belt, so they are easiest to reach while the belt is already off. We find the source before quoting, which lets you decide what to include in the job.

How it works

Describe the problem

A quick call or text with the symptoms and where the vehicle is.

Approve the price

Nothing gets touched until you say yes to the number.

Get it fixed onsite

We do the work in your driveway, lot or job site.

How it works

Tracking down the leak and replacing the belt

A text with a photo of the leak is a good place to start. Add what you have noticed, such as spots on the ground, a smell, or a low dipstick reading. We then check the engine where it is parked in North Richland Hills, trace where the fluid is coming from, and explain whether it is reaching the belt.

The price comes before any work starts, with the belt and any seal or gasket work listed separately so you can choose. Since the belt is a longer repair, it gets its own date on the schedule. We handle it on site, and while the front of the engine is open, we can show you the leak points we found.

Around North Richland Hills

When a leak near the belt needs a call

Call when you see oil or coolant at the front of the engine, even if the car runs fine. A leak that reaches the belt shortens its life without changing how the car drives. If coolant keeps dropping, watch the temperature gauge and do not let the engine overheat. Have the mileage handy and a rough idea of how long the leak has been there.

We cover all of North Richland Hills

Your driveway, your work lot or the roadside, anywhere in North Richland Hills. Call or text with the year, make and model and what the vehicle is doing.

Call 817-709-1357

Warning signs

Leaks that put a timing belt at risk

Oil around the timing cover

Wetness along the cover seams often means a cam or crank seal is leaking.

Fresh drips under the front

A new spot on the driveway can point to a leak near the belt.

Sweet smell or crusty residue

A water pump leaking behind the timing cover can wet the belt with coolant.

Coolant dropping with no puddle

Some pump leaks run down inside the cover before they ever reach the ground.

Burning oil smell after a drive

A valve cover gasket can drip onto hot parts and down toward the belt area.

Engine work in progress under the hood of a truck

Why Day's

Shop-level work, where you park.

We bring dealer-level diagnostic tools, including a lab scope and a thermal camera, to wherever your vehicle is parked.

Fords are our specialty, built on years of maintaining a construction company's fleet, from cars and light trucks to heavy-duty work trucks.

About Day's

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Questions

Timing belt questions from North Richland Hills.

Can an oil leak really ruin a timing belt?

Yes. Oil and coolant break down the rubber over time, and a belt that has been soaked can slip or shed teeth well before its scheduled interval. If you see fluid around the timing cover, call and we will check where it is coming from.

Should leaking seals be fixed during the timing belt job?

It often makes sense, since several of those seals sit behind the belt and are hard to reach otherwise. Whether to include them is your call, and the quote will show that work clearly. Text us what you are seeing and we will talk it through.

Is the water pump connected to the timing belt?

On many engines the timing belt drives the water pump, so a leaking pump can soak the belt and a seized pump can damage it. Not every engine is built that way. We will tell you how yours is set up when we quote the job. Call or text to ask.

How can I tell if the leak is oil or coolant?

Engine oil is usually brown or black and feels slick between your fingers. Coolant is often green, orange or pink, can smell sweet, and leaves a crusty film as it dries. A photo of the spot and of where it drips from helps a lot. Text it to us with the vehicle details.