Timing chain replacement interval?

Discuss any maintenance you've done to your Vibe & Matrix and ask how to perform maintenance on your vehicle
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LazLong
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 12:01 pm

Timing chain replacement interval?

Post by LazLong »

Just discovered my father-in-law's '05 Vibe Base hit 96K mi. Being a Honda person most of my life I told him we should replace the timing belt. I'm used to putting a timing belt kit into a Honda at 90k (all belts, tensioners, and water pump). Did this on my Wife's '01 Sienna which is the only Toyota I've owned, and thought it'd be the same with the Vibe. I fired up AllDataDIY to find out much to my surprise that 1ZZ's have a timing chain. I looked in my electronic copy of the owner's manual and I can't find a maintenance interval for the timing chain.

So, my question is, when does one change the timing chain?
jayoldschool
Posts: 294
Joined: Mon Aug 04, 2014 6:04 pm

Re: Timing chain replacement interval?

Post by jayoldschool »

That's the nice thing about a chain. You don't change it.
circuitsmith
Posts: 242
Joined: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:26 pm

Re: Timing chain replacement interval?

Post by circuitsmith »

With timely oil changes 200k miles or more.
2006 Matrix 5-sp
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ColonelPanic
Posts: 8419
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 8:48 am
Location: South Central Indiana

Re: Timing chain replacement interval?

Post by ColonelPanic »

I'm pretty sure the timing chain in ours will outlive the rest of the car. :D

The main timing chain related component that often needs attention in the Vibe is the tensioner. The O-ring often gives out over time and it starts to leak oil. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check the rear of the engine on the passenger side for signs of fresh oil or grime, if so it's an easy fix to replace either the o-ring itself or the entire tensioner with a new one. Aside from that, I wouldn't worry much about the chain.
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey. :lol:

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'21 Elantra Limited - 2.0L/IVT
'15 Escape SE - 1.6L EcoBoost (hers)
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LazLong
Posts: 8
Joined: Tue May 24, 2011 12:01 pm

Re: Timing chain replacement interval?

Post by LazLong »

Thank you all for your quick and informative replies.

I'll check the tensioner to see if it's leaking. I imagine replacing it is easier than doing a timing belt kit on a Honda. :P
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