timing chain maintenance?
 

All,
I was just wondering how often the timing chain needs to be replaced. How difficult is it to change, and how much time should it take. Is there a way to tell how good/bad it is by visual inspection?
Thanks!

PS- please look at post "blinding flash of the obvious"

Don't worry
 

other things will go first ! IT"S NOT A HONDA it would start to make a hell of alot of noise ( AKA STEEL) your valve train would give up the ghost first ! don't worry about it ;)

Re: Don't worry
 

I agree. If you do have alot of miles on it a good time to put a new one in is when you are swapping a cam or heads.

Run a timing light on it. See if the timing marks jump around at differente degrees: 10,12,10,10,12,13,10,13... That _might_ mean there is slop in the chain as it may have stretched.

Perdonally, I would make sure I had one in along time ago, before I hit 100K miles on the car... For $70, and about a few hours (to remove the fan and waterpump...) its worth it.

I'm glad to hear that it's not too hard. Changing the timing belt on the diesel VW was PIA!!! Had to re-time the injection pump too, which required a $400 tool from VW. Anyway, I will change the timing chain before I depart overseas. There are a lot of things I need to get done prior to going because shipping is so expensive. What is the best site for finding step by step instructions? (Maybe someone's home page? ) Sometimes chilton isn't too clear on things.... I'm looking to do heads, intake, subframes, and re-install my 2:73's for the autobahn. A few other things as well.

Right now, the erratic idle is a phantom I've been chasing for weeks now. (thread "blinding flash of the obvious?) But I drove it this morning and it ran fine- go figure. I think that the exorcism is in order.... LOL

Rob

I advise my customers to change theirs at 100k miles, but I have always changed mine every 75k miles. Always noticed an improvement, too!

Take care,
~Chris