TIming Chain

[Adams]

Anyone here felt the need to change your timing chains at 60K? Have any of you done it yourself? My truck has 70K and part of me says if it ain't broke, don't fix it. The other part of me says pay now or pay big later. What are your thoughts?

[PROSPHOTO]

Unless you're experiencing a driveability concern or noise issue from the front of the engine, don't touch it :nono:

BTW...60K intervals are for timing belts, not chains :undecided

[markhart1]

I think vehicles with timing BELTS, 60k is justified. But I've never had a chain break and I've taken many of my cars to over 200k. Seems like a huge undertaking to me. I searched this forum for broken timing chains and didn't see anything, so I doubt this is a problem. One post did mention it takes 19 hours to complete!

[agates1272]

I agree. Chains don't normally wear out like belts do. Refer to your owners manual. If it doesn't make mention of replacing the chain, then don't do it.

You're gut is right...if it aint broke, don't fix it.:nono:

[rbarrios]

when I needed a used college car- a low down model with just AC.. and manual everything else - ( I also requested an AMERICAN car)
sales people always walked me to the asian cars. Id say- I want an american car......then theyd show my some american cars..and then say stuff like.... oh--- Civic- is quiet- it has a belt-.....
saturn- no no... too noisy, it has a chain.....
what they failed to mention- was that the civic was going to need a new belt every 60K miles..... the saturns chain didnt need changing.
I chose a nice used saturn I found at the saturn dealer. Had 20,000 miles or so. I drove the heck out of that car (work/school/work/school- I mean back and forth on a daily basis). All I ever did to it was change the starter and front brake pads. I sold the car with about 160,000 miles- when I got my TB....
I never worried about the chain.......

[tblazed]

A major undertaking! The chain should last the life of the engine. NOT a routine thing to do as with certain imported vehicles with timing belts. On the i6 there is major disassembly involved to get to it. To replace the chain you have to drop the oil pan, remove the front engine cover, remove the drive sprocket from the intake cam and the exhaust cam phaser among many things that have to be disassembled first before you get to the chain, then put it all back together in proper alignment and hope there are no oil leaks when you're done. 19 hours may be right!

[MichEnvoyBoy]

the saturns chain didnt need changing.
I chose a nice used saturn I found at the saturn dealer. Had 20,000 miles or so. I drove the heck out of that car (work/school/work/school- I mean back and forth on a daily basis). All I ever did to it was change the starter and front brake pads. I sold the car with about 160,000 miles- when I got my TB....
I never worried about the chain.......

Whoa. You were one of the lucky ones. The Ecotec engines and 1.9 DOHC engines from the older Saturns (2004 and before) had serious timing chain problems! Some of the timing chains would fail so dramatically they would literally come right out of the valve cover on the top of the engine, mostly way before the 100,000 mile mark.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/nhtsa_saturn_timing_chain.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=saturn+timing+chain+failure

http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=25519

In the meantime, I bet the timing chain on my 4.2L will outlive the block. I have extreme piston slap at 102,000 miles that I feel is up, above and beyond what is typical for a GM block. I bet I will throw a rod or a wrist pin before my timing chain buys the farm.

[Adams]

My hyundai Accent (POS) is starting to get off a little on the timing w/ their genius idea to put a belt instead of a chain. I'm dreading having to change it out although it's nothing like the undertaking of changing it on the TB. I once had a VW Passat and when the timing belt went so did the engine. Superior german engineering???? I don't think so. Sooner or later our country is going to realize 23MPG on a 4runner isn't really better than 16MPG on a trailblazer once you figure in the cost of maint. However, this realization will be sometime after GM starts owning up to Piston Slap and other issues that have been deemed non warranty items.

[rbarrios]

wow--- had never heard of the saturn chain problems...
Mine was a 96 SL...... the NHTSA shows 2000 and up
When I sold it, still had the factory clutch. though it would soon be time change it in the future.... and I let the new owner know.

[jigubhai2001]

This may sound dumb....but from what i heard they said that TV dont have a timing belt or chain. It actually has timing gears so never have to worry about them braking..........

[PROSPHOTO]

This may sound dumb....but from what i heard they said that TV dont have a timing belt or chain. It actually has timing gears so never have to worry about them braking..........

:suicide: You got bad information :duh:

[tblazed]

Cutaway view showing chain.... and cam phaser...


http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p72/tblazed/camphaserdetail.jpg

[rbarrios]

well, think of it this way- 2 gears in that image.... connected by a chain...