2001 Pontiac Sunfire timing question

**capcan** · 03-10-2009, 03:17 PM

Ok, I know it's not a truck or a Chevy, but it is a GM and I understand it is a Chevy engine, so here goes. My wife drives a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire with the small 2.2 engine. It has 130,000 miles and runs great, but I'm concerned. I keep getting conflicting answers concerning the the timing chain. As I said, it runs great and doesn't make any nosies, but I need to know if I'm supposed to change the timing chain or not. Some have told me to change it at every 100,000 miles (I didn't) and some have told me not to touch it untill it starts making nosies or goes bad. I just went to a local shop yesterday (not a GM dealer) and asked them and again I was told not mess with it until I need to. What shall I do?? Please advise!!

**mjalstad** · 03-10-2009, 04:12 PM

Timing chains are considered a lifetime part. It would be pretty rare for it to break and it's something you should probably just leave alone. If it were a timing belt, you would probably want to change it at the specified interval such as 50K or 100K, but replacing a chain would kind of be like replacing your valve springs, there is no reason to do it unless it fails.

**jlsparky7** · 03-10-2009, 05:16 PM

As mentioned earlier timing chains do not need to be changed, however it probabl has a timing belt. Most 4 cylinders have timing belts. It is just a matter of time before it breaks. Most manufacturers reccomend changing the timing belt between 60,000-100,000 miles. If I were you id change it and have the peice of mind. Better than having a stranded wife.

My girlfriends timing belt just broke on her 2001 escort at 138,000 miles.

**Z71_guy** · 03-10-2009, 09:47 PM

im 99% sure that car has a timing belt, should be replaced every 60k miles. you do not want that to break you can do a lot of damage to the motor if it does, my wife's old car (95 neon) broke the timing belt and rosted the head broke some bent some valves damaged the pistons and so on.

**mjalstad** · 03-10-2009, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Z71_guy

im 99% sure that car has a timing belt

I'm 99.9% sure that car has a chain.
Also, you are only going to damage a motor by breaking the belt if it is an interference motor. I believe that the piston in interference motors comes up as high as where the valves are when they are open so if they are open and the piston comes up it will damage the valves and pistons. If it is a non-interference motor which I think is more common among domestic vehicles, you aren't going to do anything.

**Z71_guy** · 03-11-2009, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by mjalstad

I'm 99.9% sure that car has a chain.
Also, you are only going to damage a motor by breaking the belt if it is an interference motor.

i forgot about the interference aspect of that, whoops my bad on the belt its a chain,

**capcan** · 03-12-2009, 01:01 AM

OK, I'm still not sure one way or the other, but it sounds like most agree, that it is a chain, and I should leave it alone UNLESS, so that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for the info.