How much does it cost to replace a car crankshaft pulley?
According to Fixter research, typical crankshaft pulley replacement costs (UK) range from between £88 to £230. The average cost is around £149, including parts and labour.
We’ve found the cost of replacing a crankshaft pulley in most small city and family cars is around £150. The higher end of the price scale tends towards cars with bigger, more powerful engines and higher-end marques.
Can I carry out a crankshaft pulley replacement myself?
Your crankshaft pulley is responsible for distributing power from the crankshaft to other parts of your car (for example, the alternator, air conditioning, and power steering) and also keeping essential engine components running in sync. Without its correct operation, pistons, camshafts, and valves are vulnerable to severe damage. The crankshaft pulley damper also absorbs vibration from your camshaft. The damping rubber protects the rest of the engine from excessive vibrations that, without it, would cause premature wear and tear.
Because of these crucial factors, we recommend that professional mechanics carry out the work to guarantee the correct torques and tensions your engine needs.
What are the crankshaft pulley replacement costs from a dealership compared to Fixter garages?
| Operation | Vehicle | Average Dealer Price | Fixter Price | Average Saving |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Volkswagen Polo | £139 | £105–£128 | £23 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Citroen SpaceTourer | £211 | £171–£209 | £21 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Audi S4 | £173 | £141–£172 | £17 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Fiat Uno | £122 | £88–£108 | £25 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Hyundai Terracan | £238 | £166–£203 | £53 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Honda Civic Coupe | £138 | £97–£118 | £30 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Mistubishi Grandis | £118 | £94–£115 | £14 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Vauxhall Carlton | £118 | £94–£115 | £14 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | VW Amarok | £194 | £147–£179 | £31 |
| Crankshaft pulley replacement | Citroen C3 I | £145 | £108–£132 | £25 |
What additional factors could affect crankshaft pulley replacement?
The price of the replacement varies with each make and model. Your price will also be affected by your choice of garage that carries out the work.
If the pulley or damper hasn’t been doing its job as it should have been, then your engine timing could be off and need realigning. In more extreme cases, you may need to replace associated parts that have worn out due to the pulley’s inefficient operation.
In the worst-case scenarios, an engine may need breaking down and rebuilding, or it could be written off completely.
What are the costs of crankshaft pulley replacement parts?
Prices for a new crankshaft pulley vary for each make and model of car. Below are a few prices for specific makes and models from Eurocarparts. During our research, we also found suppliers providing parts for as little £25 and up to as much as £350.
In our search, we took an average for standard 2020 models.
| Car Make | Car Model | Crankshaft Pulley Prices |
| Ford | Fiesta | £96 |
| Fiat | 500 | £43 |
| Volkswagen | Golf | £164 |
| Audi | A4 | £164 |
| Volkswagen | Tiguan | £75 |
| Audi | Q5 | £164 |
What are the labour times and rates for crankshaft pulley replacement?
Crankshaft pulley replacement costs can vary across the country according to the garage or dealership’s size, location, types of service they offer, and the local demand.
We found garages within the London area have an average rate of £78 per hour. However, for garages around the rest of the country, the rate was a little lower, as you’d expect, at £72 per hour.
How long does a car crankshaft pulley replacement take?
A typical crankshaft pulley replacement usually takes between 1 to 1.5 hours.
While not a complicated process for an experienced mechanic, there are factors with specific models that make access or replacement trickier than others. While the average time to replace the pulley is usually under an hour, be prepared for long waits for some models.
How often should I replace my crankshaft pulley?
A crankshaft pulley should last your car’s lifetime. However, the crankshaft pulley damper contains rubber elements that are prone to deterioration over time, especially under continually changing conditions. Therefore, its condition should be monitored for wear periodically, especially in older cars.
What causes crankshaft pulley damage?
It’s common for very little wear to occur to your crankshaft pulley throughout its life, yet stress on the engine bolts can cause their warping over time. At first, this warping or stretching won’t impact associated components, but as it gets worse, it can cause a knock-on effect to the parts around and connected to it.
Also, bearing failure in the engine can cause similar issues for the crankshaft and your pulley tension.
Another cause of pulley failure is poor fitting. If fastened in place using incorrect tightening torques or with a belt tension that is too strong, this can cause wear leading to issues with contact surfaces and their connected components.
Can you drive with a bad crankshaft pulley?
Driving with any faulty engine component is taking a risk with your complete car’s health. Despite their robust nature, it can often take a single simple failure to seize your car’s engine. For example, a failing water pump, timing belt, or even a failing crankshaft pulley can send your pistons out of sync, destroying your engine.
How do I know if my crankshaft pulley is bad?
The most common symptoms of a failing crankshaft pulley are loss of or change in engine performance, knocking and vibrations coming from the engine bay, or tapping sounds while the car is idling or under load.
You may also notice your headlights flickering or the car struggling to start; this is because the crankshaft pulley is responsible for powering your alternator.
What happens if the crankshaft pulley breaks?
You’ll hear some unusual noises coming from the engine bay, possibly loudest while accelerating, the timing of your engine will be thrown off, causing problems with performance and quite possibly leading to critical engine damage.
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About Fixter
Fixter is revolutionising the car maintenance industry, one repair at a time. Fixter was founded to make car maintenance as easy as booking a taxi. Digital, transparent and stress-free, with world-class customer service. Since launching in Manchester in 2017, Fixter has expanded to more than 100 towns and cities across the UK and provided thousands of car owners with honest, convenient and affordable car repair services.