Do I have a timing belt or chain? I think it needs to be changed at 105K. What if I change at 115K How far more can I go without changing it?

 

4 cylinders have timing chain, 6 cylinders have timing belt. You have a timing chain. However, both cars also have a separate drive belt. Has your drive belt ever been changed?

 

Is this a 4 or 6 cylinder?

 

What is better to have?

I am not sure if the drive belt has been changed. How can I tell? I bought the car at 40K and now at 96K.

 

Four.

 

Your 4-cylinder has a timing chain. The timing chain does not have a set interval to be changed, so the 4-cylinder costs less to maintain.

The V6 has a belt that needs to be changed. That service can be expensive. The interval to change the timing belt on the V6 is around 100K miles.

 

On the 4-cyl K-series engine, I recall there's a way to look at the position of the timing-chain-tensioner. I don't remember the details, but as we get more miles on those engines we can think about that.

 

Generally, the drive belt should be changed at 105,000 miles; or if there is damage to the belt; or if the gauge on the drive belt auto-tensioner shows the belt has stretched/loosen past a certain range (there is a gauge as part of the drive belt auto-tensioner that has an arrow and some lines representing belt tension range).

Some people call the drive belt a serpentine belt, etc. It is the one around the alternator pulley and other accessories.

 

I have over 96K miles on my 4-cylinder. I want to wait as long as possible. How long should I wait? I don't have the manual but I think it said to change at 105K.

 

I have over 96,000 now.