Some engines use a rubber timing belt that has to be replaced on schedule, and many use a metal chain with no set interval. We help you find out which you have.

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Call hours: Mon to Fri 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM · Sat 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Engine work in progress under the hood of a truck

Timing belt in Keller

Start by finding out whether your engine has a belt or a chain

The timing belt or chain links the crankshaft to the camshafts so the valves open and close at the right moment. A belt is reinforced rubber with teeth, runs behind a cover on the outside of the engine, and wears out with age and miles. A chain is metal, runs inside the engine in oil, and is generally built to last much longer.

Plenty of engines built today use a chain, so the first step is knowing what is under your hood. Your owner's manual will list a timing belt interval if your engine has one. If it lists nothing, or the manual is long gone, text us the year, make, model and engine size. We can tell you which one it uses before anyone talks about a price.

Quick facts

Where

Your home, work or roadside in Keller

Price

Given before any work starts

Call hours

Mon to Fri 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM · Sat 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Reach us

Call or text 817-709-1357

Warning signs

Clues that point to a belt or a chain

A belt entry in the manual

If the maintenance schedule calls for a timing belt change, your engine has a belt.

Nothing listed at all

Chain engines usually have no scheduled timing replacement, so a blank there is a strong hint.

The cover itself

A belt usually sits behind a light plastic cover, while a chain hides behind a sealed cover holding oil.

A rattle right after a cold start

A brief clatter at startup is more often a chain or chain tensioner concern.

Old paperwork

A receipt or an under-hood sticker for a past timing belt change settles the question for good.

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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How it works

How a belt job gets set up once we know what you have

With the belt confirmed, call or text us the mileage and anything you know about past service. We can look at the vehicle where it is parked, check for leaks around the front of the engine, and give you a price for the job before any work starts.

A timing belt takes longer than most repairs, so it goes on the calendar as its own appointment. On that day we do the full replacement in your driveway or parking spot. And if the engine turns out to have a chain after all, there is no belt job to sell you, and we will say so plainly.

Questions

Timing belt questions from Keller.

How can I tell if my car has a timing belt or a timing chain?

The owner's manual is the easiest place to start. A timing belt replacement will appear in the maintenance schedule if the engine has one. Without the manual, the engine size and model year usually settle it. Text us those details and we will let you know which one you have.

Does a timing chain ever need attention?

Chains are built for a long life, but they can stretch, and the guides and tensioners that control them can wear, especially when oil changes have been skipped. A rattle at startup or a timing-related check engine code can point that way. Call and describe what you hear so we can take a look.

Is a timing belt the same as a serpentine belt?

They are different parts. The serpentine or drive belt runs on the outside of the engine and turns things like the alternator and AC compressor. The timing belt sits behind a cover and keeps the engine's internal parts in step. If a shop mentioned one and you are unsure which, call or text and ask.

Do you replace timing belts at homes in Keller?

Yes. We do the job where the car is parked, at home or in a spot at work, as long as there is room to get around the front of the engine and the car can stay put for the day. Send us the vehicle details to get it on the schedule.

Around Keller

When to call about a belt or chain question

Reach out before the interval in your manual arrives, or right after buying a car whose engine you cannot identify. If it is running normally, it is fine to keep driving while the job gets scheduled. A new rattle, a check engine light or rough running is a different matter, and it is worth describing to us before a long drive. Have the year, model, engine size and mileage ready.