1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Timing Chain Replacement Interval

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Technical Discussion' started by JeffG, Oct 11, 2006.

  1. Silver 2008

    Silver 2008 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2008
    71
    1
    0
    Location:
    Idaho
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I would not worry about trying to change it. It should last the life of the engine.

    I personally will not buy a car with a timing belt anymore. I had two Mazdas that had to have the timing belt changed every 60K. I had the dealer do mine the first few times and they kept messing stuff up. They would break the plastic timing covers or not get the gaskets back in correctely, or break a bolt head off the water pump pulley and not tell me (that cost me a 500 dollar radiator job). I then started to do it myself, and with DOHC, it was a PITA.

    Now, that is one of the first things I ask about a new car. If they say belt, I walk.

    Mike
     
  2. TNPapa

    TNPapa Junior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2007
    48
    5
    0
    Location:
    Nashville
    Vehicle:
    2014 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    III
    Had a 2002 vw new beetle with the tdi engine. Timing belt broke, new engine was going to be $8,500. It is much cheaper to replace the timing belt than having to buy a new engine.
     
  3. ctbering

    ctbering Rambling Man

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2008
    1,650
    123
    5
    Location:
    Chicago Illinois
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    I put over 250 k on my Toyota Celica with a timing chain. The engine purred even with this mileage. I would have been required to replace the belt 3 times with this mileage? Does the Prius have the timing chain or the timing belt? The belt replaced the chain because many car owners did not do proper maintenance on their cars...the chain broke and damaged the lifters and valves...very expensive versus the timing belt when it breaks, no engine damage. The downside...the timing belt replacement is expensive.
    DOES THE PRIUS HAVE THE CHAIN OR BELT?
     
  4. Patrick Wong

    Patrick Wong DIY Enthusiast

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    18,198
    6,461
    0
    Location:
    Green Valley, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2015 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    The Prius engine definitely has a timing chain. Do not worry about replacing that part, unless you hear unusual engine rattles or other noises.

    Regarding belt vs. chain, some engines are designed to have "interference", so that when the correct valve timing is disrupted, damage will result to the valves when the pistons hit them. Usually those engines have relatively high compression, so there is no space between the piston at top dead center position and an open valve.

    The question of interference is unrelated to the question of whether a particular engine is equipped with a timing belt or a timing chain.
     
  5. kammssss

    kammssss Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2007
    287
    85
    0
    Location:
    SoCal
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Hey everyone,

    It is not the chain that we should really be worried about; it is the CHAIN TENSIONER. The chain, being made out of metal, will probably last 200k or more; however, the CHAIN TENSIONER, I presume, cannot be made out of metal, too. This is for obvious reasons, unless someone can verify otherwise. The CHAIN TENSIONER is probably made out of some kind of hard plastic, like my 94 Saturn, which also uses a timing chain. The chain was in great shape, but the CHAIN TENSIONER gave out at 80k or so, which resulted in an engine overhaul. Has anyone ever seen the CHAIN TENSIONER on a Prius? What is it made out of? I will keep everyone posted when I change the chain/chain tensioner. Peace.
     
  6. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    464
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    same sh!t happened to our 94 saturn. bashed things up beyond recognition. oh, were we pissed off. that is also about the time we switched to toyota and DH has been complimenting their quality since the first day he took one apart. (that was over 7 years ago.)

    short answer: toyota doesn't use cheap nice person plastic for critical engine parts. the guide will last you a long time, say around 200k you'll probably need a crankshaft seal anyway and that would be a good time to dig into it.
     
  7. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2005
    9,810
    464
    0
    Location:
    MD
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    there's a reason it costs so much, the job is a serious pain. but the guys who can whip em out quickly (usually with shortcuts or mistakes as you noted) make a killing on that kind of stuff.
     
  8. David Beale

    David Beale Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2006
    5,963
    1,979
    0
    Location:
    Edmonton Alberta
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    The timing chain is classed as an engine lifetime part. If you rebuild the engine, replace the chain and tensioner as well as the guides. Other than that, don't worry about it.

    DO check the water pump belt when you do an oil change. I expect even it will last a long time. It's not working very hard.
     
  9. hobbit

    hobbit Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2005
    4,089
    468
    0
    Location:
    Bahstahn
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
  10. fgoodyear

    fgoodyear New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2007
    187
    11
    0
    Location:
    Tillson, New York
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    In response to an earlier post about thr rattling of the chain, that would be the tensioner that goes bad, the chain will probably last the life of the car but if you have to get into it to change the tensioner, you might as well replace the chain and water pump also because it is such a pain to get to where they are located. But, if you don't have to... there is no reason to ever have to change a chain