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if the timing chain breaks on the base engine, will the top half of the engine jam together or will it free move? i think the terms are interference and non-interference engines.

quote:if the timing chain breaks on the base engine, will the top half of the engine jam together or will it free move? i think the terms are interference and non-interference engines.Unknown at this time. I've searched for that info and I couldn't find an answer.

Silver: He is talking about if the valves will contact the pistons if the timing chain fails.Red: That is an excellent question, I am so glad you asked. I haven't got a clue though. Sorry. Edit: Funny Nova and I were submitting our shoulder shrugs simultaneously. I wonder if the http://www.matrixvibe.net people would know? Some of them are former Celica owners.

It's quite possable you'll end up with a valve stuck through your piston top. The engine will then be toast.Timing chains normally don't break. Belts do. I wouldn't even worry about the timing chain until 100,000 miles.

I have two words for you... You're Screwed!!! Like Derek said, the engine will be toast. You might not have to replace the whole thing, but for how much it will cost, you might as well.I had a similar thing happen to me with my previous car, a Mitsubishi Eclipse. Three weeks after I bought it, the idler bearing siezed which in turn broke the timing belt and cased the pistons to bend the valves. The motor needed a totally rebuilt head. Luckily it happened within a month, so they paid for it. I bought the car used. The cost of fixing that was around $3000 for a rebuilt head. I would hate to see how much it would be for the Vibe.Does the Vibe have a chain or a belt?

quote:the idler bearing siezed which in turn broke the timing belt and cased the pistons to bend the valves.That only happen in an interference motor. Non-interference motors don't have this problem. It's undetermined if the 1ZZ and 2ZZ Vibe engines are interference or not.quote:Does the Vibe have a chain or a belt?Chain.

Thanks Scott. So after 100,000 miles you should have the chain checked over?

Whatever the manufacturer recommends. Sometimes before 100,000 miles.

I wonder when the Vibe's timing chain should be checked? I mean it's not like it has to be done soon, but it would be nice to know.

I will have to find the info, but from what I recall the 2zz is a non-interferance motor. I think I saw it at the Celica forum.

quote: i think the terms are interference and non-interference engines.I like the term "Crashers" better......

quote:the idler bearing siezed which in turn broke the timing belt and cased the pistons to bend the valves.That only happen in an interference motor. Non-interference motors don't have this problem. It's undetermined if the 1ZZ and 2ZZ Vibe engines are interference or not.To my understanding, a lot of the 4 cylinder engines today are non-interference, such as the Ford Focus. I sure hope the 1zz is N.I. It will be 1 less potential problem for us.

The Escort is a different engine. As you can imagine with the compression of ~19.5-1, my Golf is an interference engine. (Not much space in the combustion chamber) The timing belt must be replaced every 80K miles with the factory belt that was issued for the 2002 model year. Every 100K miles with the current belt! My point is that every engine is designed differently.Jason

now now...Dear silverawd26, I did not mean anything by my comment. As you are aware it is difficult to display emotions with only words. I did not mean anything I said to insult your intelligence.Jason

Even though I knew better, I skipped belt replacement completely on my '87 Pontiac Firefly (Sprint/Metro) and it died with a whimper, not a bang, at 14 years and 340,000 km! A $30 tow and $50 labour plus parts and I was back in business... Point to ponder on the 2ZZ engine: It might be free spinning/non-crash at low RPM/lift, but interference above 6,000 RPM!