vB Easy Archive - Please Help me!

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Please Help me!
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Posted by: gsmboi

Ok, so I have a 2000 Chevy Tracker, and everytime I ask when I need to replace the timing belt, I get a diffrent answer. One place told me 100k, one place told me 60k and another told me 75k, and yet another told me 150k.

Obviously, I looked in my owners manual and it didn't say. So when should I have had it done, because i'm creeping up on 90k now, and don't know if I am passed due or not.

Posted by: Heavy Fluid

Trust me, you do not want your timing belt to go out while the engine is running. If you think are near due, you might as well change that out. Does it matter if you are over or almost over? The fact is, if your timing belt goes out, you could be replacing your entire engine...not just the belt.

Posted by: b_rad94

General rule of thumb in my opinion would be every 80-100k

Posted by: gsmboi

Is it true I should have the water pump done at the same time?

Posted by: b_rad94

now that would be a decision on your own... alot of people do the waterpump at that time because they already have everything torn off the engine to get the timing belt.. thing is your water pump may be good to over 200k, so if you want to change it now it might save you hassle in the future but it may end up costing you more for no reason aswell..

in my opinion, if your waterpump is well there is no point in changing it.. but I live by the 'if its not broken dont fix it' rule..

Posted by: KrisUK

I'd say around 100k,

I also recommend you change the water pump at the same time too. It seized up on my car which stripped the timing belt which in turn bent the valves. For the cost of the water pump, I'd say it's worth replacing rather than getting the engine rebuilt.

Posted by: B0000rt

When you say timing belt, you mean the serpentine belt?

The rubbery one that runs all your accessories, (AC, Power steering, water pump, Alternator)

(The belt isn't really used to timing anymore since your 2000 probably doesn't have a distributor anymore, and it's DIS or HIS or whatever it's called with the high energy ignition thingy)

I thought you really only change that out when it starts to get cracked and stuff eh?

It's fun taking it off on my car, since you gotta jack up the engine and take off one of the motor mounts (I was so scared that the engine would slip off the jack and something would snap lol)

Posted by: B0000rt

FYI I just checked my Chilton's and it says for my car atleast ('94 Grand Am) That INSPECTION interval for "Drive belts" is every 50k kms (30k miles)

Posted by: b_rad94

timing belt doesnt run any accessories... it goes from your crank to your cam gears... if that belt breaks your engine is pooched..

Posted by: Gianpaolo_E46

Ask you dealership when it should be changed.

Posted by: B0000rt

Quote:

Originally posted by b_rad94
timing belt doesnt run any accessories... it goes from your crank to your cam gears... if that belt breaks your engine is pooched..

I thought a timing belt was the belt you used for timing, with a timing gun and all (as my dad does on his '89 caddy)

You know what, I'm stuck on pushrods and not ohc engines.

Sorry, timing chain on pushrods

Posted by: Fido4life

ask the dealership to show you in writing when it is supposed to be changed, most manufacturers have a maintenance list of what has to be changed at what mileage point.

the difference for the varying opinions, is that weather does play a part. If you live in a very cold climate where the outside air temp is regularly -20c, or in a very hot one, you should change your belt more often. The timing belt is rubber and is prone to cracking under extreme weather conditions as any other rubber item, especially on a motor that will heat up to say 40c, and then cool down to -20c, a couple times a day. 100k km is an average for most cars, you probably don't need to change it before then

also change the water pump while you're at it, it's a $75 part (and that's a new oem one) and it doesn't add any labor. Most cars I've seen start leaking from the water pump between 150k-200k km

Posted by: Kremithefrog

Quote:

Originally posted by B0000rt
I thought a timing belt was the belt you used for timing, with a timing gun and all (as my dad does on his '89 caddy)

You know what, I'm stuck on pushrods and not ohc engines.

Sorry, timing chain on pushrods

Yeah it runs the cam gears which control static timing.

Posted by: Kremithefrog

Quote:

Originally posted by b_rad94
timing belt doesnt run any accessories... it goes from your crank to your cam gears... if that belt breaks your engine is pooched..

Depending on if the engine is an interference or non-interference engine.

Posted by: plumers

Japanese cars usually change timing belt at 60K miles. I'm not sure about water pumps stuff.

I think Chevy Tracker is based on Suzuki Escudo (same thing with Corolla and Prizm and so on), so I'd say it's a Jap cars and probably you might want to change it as soon as possible since you don't want your timing belt breaks when you're driving. Just go to GM Goodwrench (or any Chevrolets) service center and ask for it if you want to get the exact answer from the manufacturer. Also your Manual books should tells you about this.