Hello. 2002 Toyota Echo. Manual transmission . 222000 km. Do I need to change timing chain, the chain guide, the tensioner now? People say timing chain is life time of the car; what does that mean? But the guide is just a plastic piece & will wear our. I asked Toyota dealership & no definite answer. Also will the chain give pre warning signs like rattling noise before it breaks, stretches out, etc. Meaning can I rely on warning signs first to know when to change the chain & all other accessories? Pls help answer. Thank you very much .
People say timing chain is life time of the car; what does that mean?
It means what it says. With proper maintenance for most cars there are no scheduled changes for a timing chain as there are with belts. My daily use car has 28 years and well over 370,000 miles on the original timing chain, tensioner, and guides with no problem. Another has 39 years and 300,000 miles.
But the guide is just a plastic piece & will wear our.
That depends on the quality of the plastic used. There are many different types.
Also will the chain give pre warning signs like rattling noise before it breaks,
They will usually start rattling long before they break. Though that kind of noise can also be caused by a bad tensioner rather than the chain itself. For some cars there is a specification for how extended the tensioner can be before the chain is considered worn.
