3.4 DOHC Timing Belt Inspection

[kcac]

Is there any way to determine how much mileage a timing belt has on it?

 

I don't know if the timing belt has been changed on my car. It's a 1995 Cutlass with 63,000 miles on it.

 

I popped the two top timing belt covers off - the small portion of the belt that was visible looked OK to me. I'm going to go ahead and change the belt to be on the safe side, unless someone can tell me a way to determine if the belt is a replacement vs original.

 

Any suggestions?

[digitaloutsider]

Is there really any sort of need to change it if it's not broken?

[cutlassdude96]

you want to change it before it breaks at every 60k miles

[TSabr88]

how much do the new belts cost? and how hard are they to change?

[digitaloutsider]

Do 3.1's have timing belts or chains?

[99RegalGS]

3.1's have Chains

[93CutlassSupreme]

Is there really any sort of need to change it if it's not broken?

 

if it breaks the valve train will jump time

[brian89gp]

Is there really any sort of need to change it if it's not broken?

 

When the belt breaks the car stops, so its usually best to fix it while its sitting in your driveway and not the middle of an intersection. 91-95 usually don't bend valves but if you have carbon buildup or are revving it out when it breaks, it has been known to bend valves. 96-97 will bend them at idle, good ole interference motor.

 

Belt usually goes for around $60, but while your at it you should replace the idler pulleys and tensioner assembly. $200 is about norm for all the parts.

 

http://www.60degreev6.com/index.php?p=pages&pid=62

http://www.60degreev6.com/index.php?p=pages&pid=6

[kcac]

Is there anything else that should be replaced because there is easy access to it during a timing belt change?