Belt or Chain

[koravas]

I am trying to figure out if I have a timeing belt or chain. I have a 97 Protege DX the 1.5L. It has 118k miles.

I was told by one shop that it was a belt and they say it looked old and should be replaced soon. I ended up taking it somewhere else and they told me it was a chain and didn't need to be replaced. I called the dealership today and the guy there told me it was a belt. I'm not sure I trust that guy either because he didn't look it up or anything, he told me it was a belt after I had the words "97 protege" out of my mouth.

 

[Boosted 1st Gen]

You've got a timing belt. If I recall correctly, they stopped using timing chains around 1980 on cars.

 

[koravas]

Are you sure, I was reading another posting on the mazda3 forum about timeing chains.

 

[mountjonas]

i thought more cars were getting timing chains these days...

 

[JITB]

I think the 1.5l hav chains. They do in the shop manual... Take the valve cover off and see.

 

[charles]

It's a belt. There is a chain that drives the second camshaft off the first one. That's probably where the confusion lies.

Timing chains are still used in cars. Corollas use them. They have to be maintained more (chains strech), but chains have a longer service life.

 

[zorlac7]

chains rulzz.

 

[zorlac7]

nissan use chains too (GA16DE, SR20DE, ETC).

 

[turbonium959]

Its a belt, end of story.

 

[spacemonkey]

MAzda 3s have chains

New Honda K20s are chains too....more and more companies are using chains. With chains you just need to get them inspected...which I guess is benificial to dealers?

A snaped belt sucks....

 

[Brian MP5T]

I got a chain like Mr-T for Christmas!