Tag: timing chains

10 Posts

Jul 21, 2015

What Caused the Engine to Seize?

Don's daughter's engine suddenly seized up, and now the car is dead. What caused this and was there anything they could have done to have prevented it?

engines timing chains

Mar 01, 2009

Is a timing belt a DIY job? Find out.

Dear Car Talk

I have a 2002 Hyundai Elantra with 97,000 miles. During the state inspection this week, the mechanic told me that I will soon need to replace my timing chain. He also said that the hose running from the pump housing to the...

timing belts timing chains DIY

Dec 01, 1999

The only time you don't have to replace your timing belt is...when your car doesn't have one.

Dear Car Talk

A few months ago you had an article in your column about replacing timing belts on Nissans after miles Since I have a ' Nissan Sentra XE that has miles I decided to get mine replaced so I wouldn't get...

timing belts timing chains

Apr 01, 1999

Why the switch from timing chains to timing belts?

Dear Car Talk

I'm old enough to remember when cars had steel timing chains instead of rubber timing belts Finding a broken timing chain was as rare as finding a chicken with teeth My question is Why did manufacturers switch over to timing...

timing belts timing chains design

Dec 01, 1997

No matter how poorly you've maintained your Buick, you still couldn't be possible for a timing chain failure at 34k miles.

Dear Car Talk

My wife has a Buick Skylark which seems to be overly plagued by problems Most recently at miles the timing chain broke The car was towed to a local Buick dealer They said the cause was poor maintenance and they...

timing chains dealers liability Buick

Jun 01, 1997

Do I really have to change my timing chain at 100k miles?

Dear Car Talk

I own a Buick LeSabre which has miles on it It runs great and I am very satisfied with its performance The mechanic who does my repairs recently sent me a postcard telling me that after miles I'm due for...

timing chains maintenance

Mar 01, 1997

How do we know when to change a timing belt (or chain) when we can't see into the enging to look at it?

Dear Car Talk

We've been told that after so many miles the timing belt or timing chain should be changed or dire consequences will result Since we can't see inside the engine how do we know when to make this change I have...

timing belts timing chains maintenance

Apr 01, 1996

What is an "oil slinger"...and is it important? 'Cuz I forgot it.

Dear Car Talk

I have a ' Ford motor home with a engine I have replaced the timing chain and gears with new steel gears and a new chain After I had put it back together I realized that I had left out...

timing chains

Mar 01, 1994

I have a Pontiac Fiero GT with a V- engine...

Dear Car Talk

I have a Pontiac Fiero GT with a V- engine and a five speed manual transmission While the engine is running the tachometer needle wiggles up and down plus or minus rpm seemingly randomly Strangely enough this problem goes away...

timing chains

Jul 01, 1993

Timing chains, not to be confused with timing belts, don't need frequent changing.

Dear Car Talk

I have a Buick Park Avenue with a cc engine and miles on it The car runs great but a service manager told me that these engines are prone to having their timing chains break at miles or so He...

timing chains timing belts maintenance