How Long Does It Take to Replace a Car Belt?

[NathanMarie]

Generally, replacing a timing belt takes about 2-3 hours. The method for replacing the timing belt is as follows: 1. Rotate the crankshaft pulley to align the pulley notch with the protrusion on the oil pump housing, adjusting the timing point. 2. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt and the crankshaft pulley. 3. Remove the lower timing belt cover and the guide pulley. 4. Remove the timing belt tensioner, take off the belt, and then proceed with installation. 5. First, install the tensioner. Adjust it to the loosest position, with the inner angle hole adjustment position mark aligned at 180°. 6. Install the belt and adjust the tensioner. During adjustment, align the lower end of the tensioner notch with the pointer, then tighten the bolt. 7. Assemble the timing belt cover. First install the middle iron cover, then the upper and lower covers, and finally install the generator pulley, tensioner, and belt in order.

[McHolden]

Replacing a car belt usually takes 1 to 2 hours at a repair shop. The exact time depends on your vehicle's condition: Cars with compact engine bay layouts may require removing multiple components, like taking off the fan or AC compressor just to access the belt. If the tensioner pulley is rusted and stuck, that'll eat up more time. Experienced mechanics work faster, but they still need to carefully adjust the new belt's tension - too loose causes slipping and noise, too tight damages bearings. Pro tip: When replacing the belt, it's best to change the idler pulley too, as older cars often have both components fail simultaneously. Last time I saw an 8-year-old car getting its timing belt replaced, just removing peripheral parts took an hour, and the whole job lasted two and a half hours.

[KimberlyDella]

I often do maintenance on my own car, and replacing the belt usually takes a little over an hour. However, the actual operation time really depends on the car model: for economy cars, the belt location is easy to access, and if the mechanic is quick, it can be done in about 40 to 50 minutes. But for some front-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars or engines with turbos, the belt might be hidden under the chassis, and sometimes even the engine mount needs to be lifted. Additionally, parts delivery also affects the time—it’s most convenient to schedule in advance and bring the parts yourself. Last time when I replaced the alternator belt on my SUV, the repair shop had to wait 20 minutes for the part to arrive, but the actual replacement only took half an hour. After the replacement, remember to ask the mechanic to start the engine and listen for any whistling sounds—the new belt needs a few hundred kilometers to fully break in and stabilize.

[Nicole]

The speed of belt replacement depends on three factors: the age of the vehicle, working conditions, and technician skill. For mainstream family cars, one hour is usually sufficient, as experienced mechanics can handle disassembly and reassembly efficiently. However, older vehicles often have rusted bolts and greasy engine compartments, which require extra cleaning time. A critical point is to replace the tensioner pulley simultaneously—I've seen cases where only the belt was replaced, resulting in a seized tensioner pulley breaking the new belt within two weeks, which is counterproductive. Many modern vehicles position the timing belt inside the engine, requiring removal of the front wheel and splash guard; such jobs should allocate at least one and a half hours.

[Kirsten]

According to the standard procedures in the repair manual, the belt replacement process consists of seven steps: removing the protective cover, loosening the tensioner, removing the old part, installing the new part, adjusting the tension, reassembling components, and conducting multi-condition testing. Under normal circumstances, the entire process should be completed within 80 minutes. However, the actual time often doubles due to unexpected issues, such as discovering a leaking water pump that needs simultaneous replacement or abnormal noise from the pulley bearing. It is recommended to schedule the repair as the first service in the morning to avoid delays from queuing. Last time when my car had its belt replaced, the mechanic also replaced the aging water hose on the spot. Although it took an extra 40 minutes, it saved the hassle of disassembling everything again next time.