Timing Belt Kits: Belts, Tensioners, Idlers and Water Pump Kits
Easy Life Markets sells timing belt kits for car engines, from belt and tensioner sets to complete kits with idler pulleys and a water pump. Each kit is listed with its engine fitment and reference numbers, so you can match it to your vehicle before you buy.
Which one should you buy? If your engine's water pump is driven by the timing belt, a kit with the pump saves doing the same labour twice. If the pump is driven separately, a belt and tensioner kit is usually enough. Either way, match the engine code and the kit reference number first, and check the contents list on the product page so you know exactly which parts are included.
What This Category Covers
This is a sub-category of belts and hoses, part of our auto parts department. It focuses on one job: the scheduled timing belt service. Engines that use a metal chain instead of a belt are covered in our timing chains and belts category. Belt-driven pumps also appear in water pumps.
Our current timing belt kits are:
- The Ford Focus 1.5T timing belt kit. The photos show the timing belt with its tensioner pulley. It is listed for the newer-generation Focus with the 1.5T engine and also for the 1.6T.
- The KP15688XS timing belt kit with water pump, supplier model CZ1047, listed against references KP15688XS and 16105777. It includes a timing belt, water pump, tensioner pulley and idler pulley.
The range is small today and will grow. The guide below covers timing belt kits in general so it stays useful as we add kits for more engines. The current price and availability are shown on each product page.
What a Timing Belt Does
The timing belt links the crankshaft at the bottom of the engine to the camshaft or camshafts at the top. Its teeth mesh with toothed sprockets, so the valves open and close in step with the pistons. It is made of rubber reinforced with strong internal cords, and it runs dry behind covers at the front or side of the engine. The timing belt must hold the shafts in exact step for thousands of hours, which is why the tension and the condition of every pulley matter so much.
On many engines, known as interference engines, the valves and pistons share the same space at different moments. If the belt breaks or jumps teeth, they can collide. The result can be bent valves, damaged pistons and a cylinder head repair that costs far more than a timing belt kit. That is the main reason belts are replaced on a schedule.
What Is Inside Timing Belt Kits
The belt
The belt is matched to the engine by tooth count, tooth profile and width. Two belts that look alike can differ by a few teeth, which is enough to make the timing impossible to set.
The tensioner
The tensioner presses on the back or the face of the belt to hold it at the right tightness. Automatic tensioners use a spring and often a pointer or window to show the correct setting. Manual tensioners are set with a tool and locked with a bolt. Tensioner bearings wear in step with the belt, which is why good timing belt kits include a new one.
Idler pulleys
Idlers guide the belt around the engine and set its path. They have a sealed bearing that dries out over time. A noisy or rough idler can overheat and fail.
Water pump
Some kits, like the KP15688XS, include a water pump. On engines where the timing belt turns the pump, it sits behind the timing covers and is reached during the same job.
Bolts, seals and extras
Some kits add tensioner bolts, a pump gasket or seal, or a crank or cam seal. Always read the contents list. If a part is not listed, assume it is not included.
Comparing Types of Timing Belt Kits
| Kit type | Typical contents | Best for | Our example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belt only | Timing belt | Rare cases where pulleys were recently replaced | None listed today |
| Belt and tensioner kit | Belt, tensioner pulley | Engines with a separately driven water pump, or simple layouts | Ford Focus 1.5T kit |
| Full kit | Belt, tensioner, one or more idlers | Most scheduled services where the pump is not belt driven | To be added |
| Full kit with water pump | Belt, tensioner, idler, water pump | Engines where the timing belt drives the water pump | KP15688XS kit |
How to Match Timing Belt Kits to Your Engine
Start with the engine code. Many car models are sold with several engines, and each has its own belt. The engine code is often on a label under the bonnet, stamped on the block or listed in your service book. Our listings name the engine, such as the 1.5T and 1.6T for the Focus kit.
Next, compare reference numbers. Timing belt kits are usually catalogued by a kit number, and the same kit may carry several cross-reference numbers from different catalogues. Our KP15688XS kit, for example, is listed against KP15688XS and 16105777. These numbers help you find a match. They do not mean the kit is a branded original part, and we describe it as a replacement kit.
If you have the old belt, read the code printed on its back. It usually gives the tooth count and width. Count the teeth if the print has worn away. Compare the shape of the old tensioner and idlers with the photos on the product page.
If you are still unsure, contact us with your vehicle details, engine code and any numbers from the old parts. We will tell you what the listing says. We cannot see your car, so the final check of fitment is yours or your mechanic's.
When Should You Replace Your Timing Belt?
Your vehicle's service schedule gives an interval in years and in distance. Replace the belt at whichever comes first. Rubber ages with time even when a car is rarely driven, so a low-mileage car can still be due.
Replace it sooner if:
- Oil or coolant has leaked onto the belt. Contamination softens the rubber and can make it slip.
- You hear a whine, rattle or tick from the timing cover area, which can mean a worn tensioner or idler.
- The belt shows cracks, missing teeth, frayed edges or shiny glazed areas when you inspect it.
- You are replacing the water pump, cam seals or crank seal and the belt has to come off anyway.
- You bought a used car and have no record of the last change.
Tools You Need for a Timing Belt Job
A timing belt change is a precise job. On most engines the camshafts and crankshaft must be locked in position before the old belt comes off. Without the right locking tools, it is easy to lose the timing. Our tools and equipment section lists several tools for this work:
- The EA211 timing tool kit, a camshaft and crankshaft locking set for VW Group EA211 petrol engines, in a fitted case.
- The 15-piece timing belt adjuster tool kit, a chrome vanadium set with a flat curved handle and interchangeable adapters for tensioners in tight engine bays. It is also listed in our wrenches category.
- The crankshaft pulley holding tool set, which holds the pulley still while you undo or tighten its central bolt.
You will also need a good socket set, a torque wrench, and the torque figures and procedure for your engine. Our hand tools category has more.
How a Timing Belt Kit Is Fitted
Every engine has its own procedure, and you should follow the one for yours. The general steps look like this:
- Disconnect the battery and let the engine cool fully.
- Remove the drive belt, any engine covers and, on many engines, an engine mount to reach the timing cover.
- Turn the engine by hand to the timing position and fit the locking tools.
- Release the tensioner and remove the old belt, tensioner and idlers.
- If your kit includes a water pump, drain the coolant and replace the pump with its new seal or gasket.
- Fit the new idlers and tensioner, then the new belt, keeping it tight on the pull side.
- Set the tension as the engine maker specifies and tighten bolts to the correct torque.
- Remove the locking tools and turn the engine by hand through two full turns. Check the timing marks line up again.
- Refit everything, refill and bleed the cooling system if you drained it, and check for leaks once the engine is warm.
If anything binds while turning by hand, stop. Do not force it. Recheck the timing before going further.
How to Inspect an Old Timing Belt
Looking at the old belt tells you a lot about the engine. Lay it flat on a clean bench in good light and check both sides.
- Cracks across the back. A sign of age and heat. The rubber has hardened.
- Worn or missing teeth. Often caused by a weak tensioner, a seized idler or a belt that has been slipping.
- Frayed or worn edges. Points to a pulley that is out of line, or a bearing with play in it.
- Oily or swollen rubber. A seal is leaking. Fix it before fitting the new belt.
- Glazed, shiny surface. The belt has been running hot or slipping.
Spin each old pulley by hand. It should turn smoothly with no rough spots, no noise and no side play. If one is rough, you have found the likely cause of any noise you heard before the job, and you know the new kit was the right call.
Planning the Job: What to Have Ready
A timing belt job goes better when everything is on the bench before you start. Most delays come from a missing seal or a tool that does not fit.
- The correct kit for your engine code, with the contents checked against the old parts.
- Engine-specific locking tools and a way to hold the crankshaft pulley.
- A torque wrench and the torque figures for every bolt you will undo.
- Fresh coolant of the type your engine uses, if the kit includes a water pump.
- A new drive belt if the old one is worn, since it comes off during the job.
- Cam and crank seals if the old ones show any sign of leaking.
- A jack or engine support if an engine mount must come off.
Allow plenty of time. Rushing is how timing marks get misread. If you plan to have a garage fit the kit, check with them first that they are happy to fit parts you supply.
Common Mistakes with Timing Belt Kits
- Fitting a new belt on old pulleys. The cheapest part of the job becomes the weak point.
- Turning the engine backwards after the belt is fitted, which can upset an automatic tensioner.
- Kinking or bending the belt sharply during handling. It can damage the cords inside.
- Using sealant near the belt path. Excess sealant can get onto the belt.
- Ignoring an oil leak from a cam or crank seal. The leak will soak the new belt.
- Reusing stretch bolts that the engine maker says must be replaced.
- Starting the engine before checking the timing by hand.
Looking After a New Timing Belt
A timing belt needs no routine adjustment once fitted, but it does need a clean environment. Fix oil and coolant leaks promptly. Keep the timing covers in place, because they keep out grit and water. Write the date and distance of the belt change in your service book or on a label in the engine bay, so the next owner or mechanic knows when it is due. If you hear a new noise from the timing cover area, have it checked rather than waiting.
Timing Belts Compared with Timing Chains
Belts are quieter and lighter, and they are cheaper to make. They do need replacing on a schedule. Chains run in engine oil and are often meant to last much longer, but they can stretch, and their guides and tensioners wear, especially if oil changes are missed. You cannot swap one for the other. Your engine was designed for one system. If yours has a chain, see our timing chain and belt parts, along with related camshafts and crankshafts in engine parts.
Who Buys Timing Belt Kits from Us
Our timing belt kits suit experienced home mechanics, small workshops and owners who prefer to buy the parts and take them to a local garage. Buying a complete kit means the belt, tensioner and pulleys all start their life together, and the next service is easy to plan.
Each listing gives the fitment, reference numbers and contents the supplier provides, with photos of the parts. The current price and availability are shown on each product page. Delivery information is in our shipping policy, and returns are covered by the return and refund policy. General questions are answered on our FAQ page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in timing belt kits?
It depends on the kit. Some have a belt and tensioner. Fuller kits add idler pulleys, and some add a water pump. The contents are listed on each product page.
Do I need a kit with a water pump?
If the timing belt drives your water pump, many mechanics replace the pump at the same time because the labour overlaps. If the pump is driven by the drive belt, you may not need one.
How do I know my engine has a timing belt?
Check your owner's manual or search by engine code. Belts sit behind plastic covers and run dry. Chains sit behind metal covers and run in oil.
What happens if a timing belt breaks?
The engine stops. On an interference engine, the valves and pistons can also collide and cause serious damage.
Can I fit a timing belt kit myself?
Yes, if you have the locking tools, a torque wrench and the procedure for your engine. If you are not confident, buy the kit and have a mechanic fit it.
Are your kits original equipment parts?
No. They are replacement kits listed with cross-reference numbers to help you match them to your vehicle.
Which tools help with a timing belt change?
Engine-specific locking tools, a tensioner adjuster set and a crankshaft pulley holder. See our tools and equipment category for current options.