If you own an Alfa Romeo 4C one of the most important things, you need to do is to keep up with regular timing belt (cambelt) changes. If you don’t it greatly increases the chance of belt or tensioner failure, which can lead to catastrophic damage and an expensive repair bill.
In this guide we are going to tell you when to replace the timing belt on your Alfa Romeo 4C, along with some other helpful info as well.
Table of Contents
Does the 2014 to 2020 Alfa 4C have a Timing Belt or Chain?
Both the Coupé and Roadster versions of the 4C came with the same 1750 TBi engine. This engine is driven by a belt and not a chain, so it does need to be replaced at or before the recommended service interval.
| Model | Engine | Year Range | Timing Belt or Chain |
| 4C Coupé | 1750 TBi turbocharged I4 | 2013-2020 | Belt |
| 4C Roadster | 1750 TBi turbocharged I4 | 2015-2020 | Belt |
When Does the Timing Belt Need to Be Replaced on an Alfa Romeo 4C?
Alfa Romeo’s recommended service interval for the timing belt on a 4C is every 100,000 km (60,000 miles) or every 5 years (4 under extreme conditions). Some owners will get the belt done a bit earlier as Alfa has a history of overstating the lifespan of the belts and tensioners in their cars (think the 156 and 147). Some dealers and service centres recommend a replacement every 3 years, but this is seen as overkill by many as there aren’t a lot of reports of premature failure on these cars.
| Model | Engine | Recommended Change Interval (KM) | Recommended Change Interval (Miles) | Change Interval (Time) |
| 4C Coupé | 1750 TBi turbocharged I4 | 100,000km | 60,000mi | 4 -5 years (4 under extreme conditions) |
| 4C Roadster | 1750 TBi turbocharged I4 | 100,000km | 60,000mi | 4 -5 years (4 under extreme conditions) |
What Happens if the Timing Belt Breaks on an Alfa 4C
The 1750 TBi in the Alfa Romeo 4C is an inference engine, so if the belt or tensioner fails it could lead to catastrophic damage and a nasty repair bill. Quite a few owners of Alfa’s with the 1750 TBi (159, etc.) have got away with no or minimal damage when the belt breaks, but we wouldn’t count on it as the 4C’s engine is slightly different.
To get a bit of an idea of health of both the belt and the tensioner, you can try to listen for any abnormal rubbing, squeaking, tapping, or ticking sounds originating from the timing belt area. The presence of such noises may signal that the belt and tensioner have surpassed their intended lifespan on your Alfa Romeo 4C. However, if you want to get a good idea of the condition of the belt and tensioner they will need to be physically inspected (and then it’s probably better to just get them replaced).
What Else Should be Replaced with the Timing Belt?
You should replace the following components during a timing belt service on a 2014 to 2020 4C:
- Tensioner
- Idler
- Aux belt
- Water pump
To Sum Up
Both the Coupé and Roadster versions are driven by a timing belt and not a chain. Timing belt services should occur every 100,000 km (60,000 miles) or every 4 – 5 years. The 1750 TBi is an interference engine so a belt or tensioner failure can lead to catastrophic damage (although some owners have got lucky). Lastly, the belt should be replaced along with the tensioner, idler, Aux belt, and water pump.
