GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm not sure if this is where I should be posting this message, but do any of you know if the Vibe GT have a chain timing belt or a rubber timing belt? I'm assuming that if it is a chain timing belt then I will not have to worry about having it adjusted every year or so. Is this a safe assumption?Thanks.

The reading I've done has said rubber belt. I think there's a thing in the manual under maintainence that states when it should be changed. Past experience leads me to believe around 60,000 Mi. (I'm not near my manual at the moment or I'd look for sure).

http://www.mygmlink.com shows this for 60,000 miles:quote:Engine Accessory Drive Belt Inspection Inspect engine accessory drive belts Interval: At 60000 miles (or 48 months, whichever occurs first) then every 15000 miles (or 12 months, whichever occurs first)

Well, close but wrong belt. Thanks for the info though.

Since 1998 the Toyota based 1.8 engine has used a metal timing chain.

Either one, there shouldn't be any adjustment necessary. It's definately a good idea to have it changed when it gets up around 60,000 miles though just in case it's a "crasher", and with 11.5/1 compression, I think we'd be better off keeping the valves/pistons synched....

I called my Pontiac dealer and they told me that the car has a timing chain. Timing chains are maintenance free and don't need to be replaced (unless by some bad luck it breaks). Replacing timing belts costs around $500. So if you keep your cars a long time like me, you will save at least $1000. Another reason to love this car.

quote:Timing chains are maintenance free and don't need to be replaced (unless by some bad luck it breaks).That's not true. While timing chains do last longer than belts, they do stretch over time. They can stretch so much that it can jump a tooth and throw the cam out of timing from the crank. If the 1ZZ and 2ZZ engines are interference engines (which I think they are) the valves can hit the pistons if the cam timing is thrown off.
[Modified by NovaResource, 1:05 PM 8/22/2002]

Thank you all for your responses and advice. Those were all very useful info.

I read recently on another site that the Vibe 1.8L was a "non-interference" type engine design. Can anyone confirm this? Good news that it has a timing chain...much more reliable and saves $$$ in the long run!

My last commuting car was a neon (great handling and mpg), I had changed the timing belt every 65k miles because it was an interference engine. Well I should have changed the water pump also because at just over 200k miles the wp bearing went out which is driven by the timing belt. This caused the timing belt to "ride off" the toothed pulleys and in an instant my engine was ruined. Bent everything in the valve train and damaged all the pistons etc. Pretty much totalled the car since it was 8 years old. Oh well live and learn...got a Vibe now!

I also had a 1998 dodge neon R/T.I replaced the timing belt at 75,000 with all the rest of the belts with the water pump. Thankfully i worked at a dealership, so i got off lucky.The Vibe has a chain, that was one of the first questions i asked before i bought the car.

They're non-interference engines. If you've heard of bent valves, it's from float during an overrev when the valves have left the cam altogether. There sould be a tensioner to take up any slack in the timing chain. It should never need replacement.

yea we have a timing chain, much more reliable and stuff. also more noisy lol

hey, dmitri. haven't seen you in a long while! how's the vibe coming along?question on your port and polish job for the headers: was that expensive? how much did it cost and did you really see that much of an improvement?

Yeah timing chain... Although most Asian engines have timing belts, I will take a chian any day even though I know the advantages and disadvantages of both.