Timing Chain and Timing Belt Replacement in Detroit
A timing chain that rattles on startup is stretched or the tensioner has failed, and it needs attention before the chain skips a tooth. On most engines built in the last twenty years the valves and pistons occupy the same space at different moments, so a chain that jumps timing bends valves and turns a manageable job into an engine rebuild. We verify chain stretch with cam and crank correlation data on the scan tool, then show you what we found.
Bring it in if you are seeing any of this
Not sure which of these it is? Call and describe it. Half the time we can tell you over the phone whether it needs looking at today or whether it can wait for the weekend.
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- A rattle for one or two seconds right after a cold start
- A whine or a slapping noise from the front of the engine
- Check engine light with a camshaft position correlation code
- Rough running, hard starting or a noticeable loss of power
- Metal flake in the oil at drain time
What we actually do on this job
- Cam and crank correlation check on the scan tool before teardown
- Chain, guides, tensioner and sprockets replaced as a set
- Front seals and water pump done at the same time where they share labour
- Timing verified at the marks, not just bolted back together
- Fresh oil and filter after the job, since debris ends up in the pan
Turnaround. Most timing jobs are one to two days once parts are in hand.
What the price depends on
We do not publish a flat price for this, because a number quoted before anyone has looked at the car is a guess. You get a real one after the diagnosis, and you approve it before any work starts.
- Chain versus belt, and how deep in the engine it sits
- Whether the water pump is driven by the same belt or chain
- Single overhead cam versus dual overhead cam and how many chains
- Whether the engine has to come out or be lifted for clearance
- Damage already done if the chain has skipped
Free full synthetic oil change on your first visit
New customers only, with a paid service. One per vehicle. Ask for it when you drop off.
Free towing with any service over $300
Local tow to our W Warren Ave shop. Applied to your invoice once the repair is approved.
Timing Chain & Belt questions
What people ask us about timing chain & belt
How long does a timing chain last?
A timing chain is designed to last the life of the engine, but the guides and the tensioner are not. Plastic guides go brittle and tensioners lose pressure, usually somewhere past 120,000 miles and much sooner on engines that went long between oil changes. The chain then slaps, wears and stretches. Oil change history matters more than mileage on this one.
What happens if a timing chain breaks while I am driving?
The engine stops immediately, and on an interference engine the pistons hit open valves on the way down. That bends valves and can crack a piston or a head. This is why a startup rattle is worth taking seriously the week you notice it, not the month after.
Is a timing belt the same job as a timing chain?
Same purpose, different service life. A belt is rubber and has a published replacement interval, commonly between 60,000 and 105,000 miles depending on the engine. A chain is steel and has no interval, it gets replaced when it or its tensioner fails. If your car uses a belt, replacing it on schedule is far cheaper than what happens when it snaps.
Should I replace the water pump at the same time?
If the water pump is driven by the timing belt or sits behind the timing cover, yes. The labour to reach it is already paid for. Doing it later means paying that same labour a second time, which is why we quote it as one job.
Tell us what it is doing
We will call you back with what it most likely is and what it takes to find out for certain. If it is faster to talk now, the number is right there.
(313) 253-030020142 W Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48228. Closed Sunday.
Related work
Engine Repair
Knocks, ticks, overheating and oil loss. We find out whether it is a repair or a rebuild before you spend anything.
Head Gasket Repair
White smoke, milky oil, or a car that overheats and pushes coolant out. We confirm it with a block test first.
Check Engine Light
A code tells you which circuit reported a problem, not which part failed. We test the difference.
Who we do this for
Timing Chain & Belt for drivers across west Detroit and the communities on our side of the city line.
Need timing chain & belt in Detroit?
Call and describe the symptom. We will tell you what it usually means and what it takes to be sure.