My aunt has a 2003 Vue with the 4 cylinder and she was asking me how often the timing belt needed changed. She was unable to find any info on this in her owners manual and I told her the engine might have a chain rather than a belt that would be much lower maintenance. Does anyone know of the Saturn's 2.2 engine has a timing belt or chain and how often it should be serviced? I looked on Google and it kinda sounds like the the V6s have a timing belt but the 4 cylinders may have a chain. I can't really tell from what I have seen.
2003 Saturn Vue 2.2 Timing Chain
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Originally Posted By: beast3300
Chain is lifetime of the vehicle.
Or until it starts becoming loose, making noise. Then it needs replaced.
Chain is lifetime of the vehicle.
Or until it starts becoming loose, making noise. Then it needs replaced.
The chain should go easily 300k miles, as long as it wasn't abused (i.e. running low on oil).
the chain guides I hear are the issue with those 2.2's.
the chain guides I hear are the issue with those 2.2's.
An easy way to tell if it's a timing belt or chain is to go to a parts store website (I use napaonline.com because I work there and am familiar with their parts system) and look up a timing chain for it. If it doesn't list one and only lists a belt instead, you know it has a belt, and vice versa, etc.
The 2.2 has a chain.
The 2.2 has a chain.
Chains wear, break, fail, whatever. No doubt
Timing chain replacements are uncommon now because most cars use timing belts.
But they were a very common procedure years ago.
Timing chain replacements are uncommon now because most cars use timing belts.
But they were a very common procedure years ago.
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
Chains wear, break, fail, whatever. No doubt
Timing chain replacements are uncommon now because most cars use timing belts.
But they were a very common procedure years ago.
What???????
Chains still are very common.
Chains wear, break, fail, whatever. No doubt
Timing chain replacements are uncommon now because most cars use timing belts.
But they were a very common procedure years ago.
What???????
Chains still are very common.
I believe that most cars use timing belts now.
Belts used to be extremely rare.
Belts used to be extremely rare.
Every thing I ever owned had a timing chain including my Cavalier with a 2.2 Ecotec. I never have had to replace a timing chain. I really don't know anybody that has.
Originally Posted By: mechtech2
I believe that most cars use timing belts now.
Belts used to be extremely rare.
The trend nowadays seems to be back to chains. Honda and Toyota have almost completely made the swap; I believe the Honda V-6 still has a belt, but it will probably be changed at the next redesign.
A lot of people feel like me: Having to replace a belt, usually a $300.00 to $800.00 job, is just too much for a regularly scheduled item.
I believe that most cars use timing belts now.
Belts used to be extremely rare.
The trend nowadays seems to be back to chains. Honda and Toyota have almost completely made the swap; I believe the Honda V-6 still has a belt, but it will probably be changed at the next redesign.
A lot of people feel like me: Having to replace a belt, usually a $300.00 to $800.00 job, is just too much for a regularly scheduled item.
T chains were bread and butter jobs.
Brake jobs and tune ups were the most common, but T chains were regular guests.
Brake jobs and tune ups were the most common, but T chains were regular guests.
I am not sure belts were ever very common in domestics. GM used a few including an I6 in the Tempest and later the Vega and maybe some other stuff. You really need to try new things. Sometimes you need to forget about them as GM largely did and Ford and Chrysler learned from GM's mistakes. As the reliability of the domestics otherwise has improved, people are less and less likely to tolerate the high cost of timing belt replacement.
All the automakers are trying to make their cars as maintenance-free as possible. They've been doing things like extending oil change intervals, having "lifetime fill" transmissions, 100k mile spark plug change interval, extended life coolants, etc. It's not surprising they're migrating towards maintenance-free timing chains.
Many people ask if a car has a T-chain, because they either had a T-belt break in the past, or they had to pay lots of money to replace the T-belt on time.
T-chains can stretch or have the guides fail, and that can be a problem. However, the engine will sound like a messed up diesel before that finally happens. Many belts just snap suddenly, or a pulley suddenly fails, and then causes a chain reaction of engine problems.
T-chains can stretch or have the guides fail, and that can be a problem. However, the engine will sound like a messed up diesel before that finally happens. Many belts just snap suddenly, or a pulley suddenly fails, and then causes a chain reaction of engine problems.
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