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Maintenance

Timing belt or chain: why is it important to know which one your car has?

Ignoring a timing belt interval can end in an expensive failure, while a chain still does not automatically mean a maintenance-free life.

Many drivers do not know exactly whether their car has a timing belt or a chain. Yet this matters because the maintenance needs and risks are different.

A timing belt is usually replaced at a defined interval. If that is ignored and the belt fails, the engine damage can be very expensive. That is why a belt replacement should always be recorded in the service history.

A chain often gives the impression that it lasts forever, but in reality a chain can also wear, stretch or start making noise. So a chain does not automatically mean nothing ever needs checking.

If you do not know which one your car has, it is worth finding out and writing it into the service history. It is one of those details that helps avoid very unpleasant surprises.