Ok, my original post got deleted for some reason so I'm going to try again....

I just bought a 95 SL2 and I'm new to the world of Saturn. Therefore I'm also new to the world of timing chains because I've always driving Chevy/GMC suv's and trucks and they primarily use serpantine belts.

So my question is how often should I replace my timing chain in order to prevent a major mishap? the car has 156k miles on it right now and I have no earthly idea of if or when it's ever been replaced. Any information you can give me on this would be GREAT!

OK, the serpentine belt is used to drive the accessories, like the AC and the
alternator. The timing chain links the crankshaft to the camshaft so that the
valves open and close when they should. Your previous vehicles all had
timing chains for this and your Saturn has a serpentine belt for running its
accessories.

Thanks for the info, Keith. That didn't really answer my question about when I need to replace the chain but I got my answer from Derf in a different post. The one thing I do notice about these as I poke around on mine is that it seems that if I end up ever needing to replace my chain or belt or even alternator for that matter it's going to be a lot more difficult that it ever was on my trucks and suv's. So far it's treating me pretty well, though. Just small issues but nothing unexpected out of a 95 with 157k miles on it.

Timing chain replacement depends on how well the car was maintained. If the oil was regularly changed and never ran low, the chain should last 200,000+ miles. If maintenence intervals were questionable, I'd replace it now. Whenever I pick up a used Saturn, I replace the timing chain.

Replacing the timing chain isn't really that hard. The serpentine belt is a 5 minute job and I have alternator replacements down to a 15 to 20 minute job. Its pretty easy.


.Edited by: Low Saturn

Thanks for the info, Low Saturn. Maybe it just looks more daunting than it is. I'll do some more poking around on it and see how long it might take me. I know my way around an engine bay pretty well but just not used to Saturns. I think it's a good idea to get the timing chain and belt replaced since I have no idea how the previous owner maintained it. I know that when I changed the oil right after I bought it the old oil was in desperate need of changing. So that might be a big sign that it wasn't changed real often.

I'm sorry you missed my point. My point was that you have had vehicles
before that have timing chains and serpentine belts. The Saturn is the same
and should be treated the same. Keep the oil clean and don't worry about
the timing chain. Change the serpentine belt if it looks like it is getting
brittle.

Thanks for the info, Keith. Yeah, I knew that my previous had serpentine belts and I've replaced those many times. I've been told that my previous GM vehicles had timing chains as well but that they were much smaller. I believe they are behind a shield at the front of the block on those. Anyway, I'd just never had to mess with them before. So the big daddy chain was initially daunting to me. I got a Haynes manual today, though, and after reading through that it doesn't seem as bad. Although, in that manual it states that I have to lift the engine slightly to get to everything. I guess that's just another thing to deal with, eh? :)

Thanks again!

I have a 152k on mine and I have no intention of replacing the timing chain.
I've seen a few Saturn's with over 200k on the original chain. Maybe we
ought to do a pole on that here. How many miles on your original timing
chain?

If you're the original owner, changed the oil every 3000 to 5000 miles and never let it run low, you should be good to go until about 300,000. After that you could be driving a time bomb.

Also when doing a timing chain replacement, the kit comes with an updated oil pump backing plate. Older S-Series are more prone poor timing component lubrication because of the older design.Edited by: Low Saturn

What is considered to be "Older S-Series"? Sorry for the dumb question but I'm new to Saturns and I'm trying to decide if my 95 would be considered "older" with respect to the S-Series cars.

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i have a 94 sl1 and the original motor in it had 215,000 miles on it and there was nothing wrong with the timeing chain when i changed the motor. i agree that you should not worry to much about it unless it is slaping or making any other noises.
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I believe the oil pump backing plate was redesigned in 1998 or 1999. So anything older than that is prone to poor lubrication of the timing components. You may be ok with regular oil changes if you bought the car new. But if its a used car with over 100,000 miles, I wouldnt trust it.

Once you hear ticking or knocking it may be too late. By the time it gets to that point the upper, left and right guides are pretty worn and the tensioner it at the end of it limit.

Its an 02, bought it new and I have changed the oil every 5500 to 11000
miles depending
on whether I use synthetic or regular oil.Edited by: keith

Mine's a 95, bought about 3 weeks ago and know almost no history on it! :) So i think i'll take Low Saturn's advice and replace the chain just as a preventative measure.

5500 to 11000 miles?

Shoot me an email when you need a new engine. I can get them pretty cheap.

Change your oil every 3000 to 5000 miles.

Engine runs just as good now as it did when new, still get 38mpg. Don't
think I'll need an engine anytime soon. I go by the oil life monitor and I
never change oil at 3000 in any car. 5000 would be the absolute earliest,
7500 more often.

Cool, do what you want, its your car and your money. But anyone who has owned a Saturn S-Series for any length of time knows to change the oil religously at 3-5k intervals and to ignore the oil life monitor. 5-7k might be ok on other cars, but not these. I give your engine three to five more years of life depending on how many miles you drive.

I've been working on these cars for 15 years, owned 20 S-Series, rebuilt several engines/transmissions (including a turbocharged S-Series), done several SOHC to DOHC swaps, automatic to manual transmission swaps, and seen what thousands of people have gone through over the years. The #1 killer of these cars is poor maintenence due to not changing the oil at 3-5k intervals.

I mean really? Whats an extra $15 to $20 and fifteen minutes of time every couple months to make sure your engine lasts?
Edited by: Low Saturn

Three to Five more years, that's great. I'm going to retire in three years
and
after that I'll have no more use for the Saturn.

The car was one of those Silver Blue Specials they advertised in 02,
remember "$9995 including air". Turns out it also included shipping so
the whole thing was under $11,000 off the lot. I've kept pretty good
track of expenses with it and so far my TOC (total owner cost) is around
$21,000. That works out to about $.14/mile. Thats not even considering
residual value.

I bought it because I have a 100 mile daily commute and I wanted to
preserve my truck for retirement and of course save gas money. I do
believe that the car will easily go the additional 80,000 miles and three
years that I need it for, even at my current maintenance schedule. With
3000 mile oil change intervals, the engine might well been good for over
300k, maybe even more, but I won't need it that long.

Besides, around here, its the jerks that run into you that send your car to
the junkyard, not old age. I've been lucky in this respect, its only been hit
once and that was a very light hit in the rear, only required a bumper
cover.Edited by: keith

Sounds like you've had a lot of luck with your Saturn! :) You should send your story into Saturn and get on a commercial. With all that highway driving it may not require as many oil changes as those of us that "abuse" ours with all of the in town driving and stop and go traffic. But like I've said, I'm new to the whole world of Saturns but if I can get by with only $.14/mile spent I'll be an extremely happy camper:)

I have had very good luck with my Saturn, I do keep in tough with the
salesman from time to time. I've known a few others that have also had
good luck with them and heard of a few that didn't, but I suspect as with
all cars that turn out to be lemons, its not always the car's fault.

I do take pretty good care of my cars, in spite of the less frequent oil
changes, but I do a lot of highway driving and I do keep an eye on the oil.
When it gets too dark, I change it, but I have found that the new oil life
monitors are pretty good, in fact a little conservative.

Most people think its the miles that take its toll on oil, to some extent,
that is true, but the biggest thing that contaminates and breaks down oil
is the hot shutdown. When you shut down your engine while hot, not
overheated but normal operating temperatures, the residual oil film really
takes a beating from absorbing all the residual engine heat. That is one
of the big things that the oil life monitor is looking at.

Most people shutdown their engines about 28 times a week. After three
months of this, the oil is ready to be changed, regardless of whether that
is 1000 miles or in my case 6000 miles. If you don't use the vehicle for a
daily driver, so you don't do the 28 "drive cycles" a week, then you can go
longer than 3 months. I only drive my truck on weekends, so I only do an
oil change about once a year. It's got 140,000 miles on it and has yet to
burn it's first drop of oil. I do use synthetic in it.