How long can you drive with a bad timing chain?

My mechanic told me it was probably time to replace my car’s timing chain, but I don’t know. How long can you drive with a bad timing chain?

Melanie Mergen · Answered on Jul 08, 2022

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

How long you can drive with a bad timing chain depends on the severity of the problem. But, if your bad timing chain is on the verge of failing, you might only be able to drive a few more minutes.

Once your bad timing chain fails, you’ll immediately lose the ability to operate the vehicle. The longer you drive with a bad timing chain, the likelier it becomes that it will break.

A properly functioning timing chain is essential to keeping the engine’s cylinders firing at the right times. Driving with a bad timing chain could give you serious engine damage, and it’s also dangerous because it could cause your vehicle to stop suddenly without warning.

A timing chain typically requires replacement anywhere from 40,000 to 150,000 miles.

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