VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1990-Current 2004 Timing Belt

I was wondering if the timing belt has to be changed at around 100,000 miles like Honda's, etc...My neighbor just got one and he's in the dark...Thanks for any help, tips, etc...Kevin

I would suggest following the instructions in the owners manual. Most also install a new water pump at the same time.

Like Gene said plus most timing belts you can get in kit form that will have the idler and tensioner pulleys, then just add the water pump.

I had mentioned that it's normal to do the water pump at the same time...Of course, he was even leary about any news that it might be a good time to change the timing belt...Thanks, Guys

I would suggest 100k is the latest to change timing belt (seen them break at 85k) and as others have suggested water pump and idler pulleys as well.
Tony

Timing belts very rarely show symptoms that they are going to fail, they just let go. When I had my shop I always recommended changing them at 100K or 5 years.

I would still go by what the company recommends. There are some engines that require replacement at 60,000 miles and never make it to 100,000.

It's this guy's first "newer" car and he's never heard of such a thing...I think the previous owner gave him the car because they knew this was due and they just didn't want to invest the cash...It appears to be a great car...Tried to trade him my Jaguar for it...No dice...

What type of car is it?

Sorry...I was out of town...He said it was a Nova...It says "Classic" on the trunk lid...Only markings I see on the outside of the car...Along with the bow-tie on the grill, of course...

A Classic is an early 2000's Malibau made for fleet sales. It could be a 4 or V-6, a Chevrolet engine, and doesn't have a timing belt.

Tell him to find out if it is an interference engine,(will bend the valves if the belt breaks). If it is not and he is cheap tell if to drive tell it goes to tennis show mode. Then have it fixed.

That's what I was wondering...I didn't know if this is "one of those cars" that you should be concerned about the timing belt...Thanks...

Been there done that to my 91 olds cutlass supreme DOHC 3.4. Its a pretty expensive fix.....about $1800 in parts and labor now. First time I did not have it done at GM dealer and only the belt, was then gone again in 30,000. Gm says to replace all the idlers with it which I did.

That was the simple part, the real problem with those cars was the 3.4 DOHC motor was the alternators. I went thru 11 of them at $550 in repairs a shot. Why, the factory actually designed a heater motor that drew air from grill area and pushed it down a 1" ID tube directly onto the alternator which only came on once the second rad fan came on. The job was 5 1/5 hours to re and re the alternator. Why so long, well, you had to have the car onb a hoist and pull parts of the front suspension , in order to be able to get the alternator out and back in re & re.

This motor was used in Z34 lumina, oldsmobile cutlass supreme, pontiac GTE and GTP .

Those same cars built on the W platform along with buick regal also had a big problem with the rear disc brakes . What the owners manual doesn't tell you, is that you need to use the emergency brake every time you park the car in order to keep the rear disc brake pads screwed out . I found this out after 14,000 KM 10,00 miles and front pads were gone.

After getting this info from service advisor and then showing him that that information is not in owners manual, slammed on desk and said SHOW ME. Got tree brake job and drove car differently using emerg brake on parking.

And GM wonders why we do not worship at its bow tie alter !!!!!!!!!!!!

mike lynch

I guess it appears there is no "Nova" any longer...It is a "Classic" and I guess they only come with 4 cylinders...How sweet the roar of a Chevy four...

The Last Nova was a little Toyota with a Chevrolet name on it. It became aaa Geo Prism in the 90's. That also was a Toyota Corola.

Now I recall I had an '86 "Chevrolet" that had a 3 cylinder turbo charged Suzuki motor under the hood...Made in Japan...Just can't remember what it was called...Pre-Geo era...Talk about a tin can with wheels...

Sprint

That's it...! Boy, was that guy excited to get it...Guess there's a following for those death traps...Thanks

The Sprint was made by Suzuki.

Yep..I remember the tag...Shame on Chevrolet...But, it did get nearly 50 MPG... If you'd not keep "punching it..." I Guess they were trying to keep up with the Dodge "Colt" of that day...