Timing Belt

[happygrant]

e just purchased a 2000 esteem with 87k on it. I was thinking the timing belt had to be changed at 90k but I have been told it's good to 160k, is this correct?

Cheers

[Doohickie]

Timing belts in general should be changed between 60 & 90k. It might be a good idea to change it, just to be safe.

[ShortBuSX]

Does it have a timing belt? My Aerio has a timing chain, so I just assume your Esteem would be the same way.

[dailydriver]

hi happygrant

were you able to find out if your esteem had a timing belt or a chain. i have the same car with about the same amount of miles and am debating the same question as you were!

[chef]

hi there...i have a 2001 esteem and i believe your 2000 model should be the same. I don't think the 1.8 (timing chain) was out for that year. if you have the 1.6 like i do then it does have a timing belt and should be changed. mine is due soon and was quoted 245 (canadian) for the parts and labour...not bad really...

[nine_eight_esteemer]

hello,

I have a timing belt also. and i'm hesitating right now. my car has over 160,000 miles on it. And i don't know when it was changed last. we baught the car at 112,000 miles. i'm gonna try a fuel filter change, fuel injector cleaner. and see what happens if further timing related problems occure then i guess i'll HAVE to change. typcally your supposed to change a timing belt at 100k miles but its best left there till 120k based on experience simply because factory oem adjustment and belt installation is a little different then us home "do it yourselfers". once your over, in my opinion as soon as hesitation starts even a little, you should change. another question....does anyone get value lifter noises, mine started after 150k miles. probably cause of burnt oil(my sister & mom drive the **** outta it). If anyone needs anymore info or help i used to be an Inspector for the state of Texas (vehicle sticker inspection) and i have been working on cars since i was eight... so feel free to ask a question or two. one more thing about my 98 esteem if it has a issue of pickup like u hit the gas and a second or two later it kicks in then it might be a fuel system related problem. if it does that at start up then its timing related. if it does it after its warmed up then-->fuel system. so start with basic tune up W/plug wires (double check gap__VERY IMPORTANT). if that doesn't help hickups or anything check timing. if i'm correct for this esteem and a few others. this car is supposed to be Factory preset timing and its supposed to be nonadjustable. If this isn't true then give me some info on how to test it and see if its correct or off a little. thanks guys hope that helped you some.

[goingconcern]

Hi, I'm buying a 2000 Esteem GLX 1.8 at 108k kilometres (68k miles), and the dealer's assured me it has a timing chain...

[nine_eight_esteemer]

hello,

About your timing chain or timing belt problem, pop open the hood and take a look. if you have a black plastic belt cover on either side(should be left) of the engine then its definately a timing BELT. For you that don't know the timing belt is a belt with Teeth that slip on to gears with Teeth that connect the cam shafts to the engine base at a specific settings. u should change at 90k, or 60k is earliest. u can even change it at 120k it shoudln't hurt.

but i have a problem now. i tried to do the fuel system of my suzuki, i gave a full tune up, i changed the tranny oil, and cleaned everything. and now......again.... i have HESITATION.. GRRRR.... I've tried soo much man....these cars have such little information on them. and their systems are generally closed...dealer servicable and the parts are rediculously expensive sometimes.... but anyway. i need help... is this an ECU related problem, or is it my fuel pressure regulator, or maybe timing belt. it might be the high tension coils that are going bad. but i think its more computer related. Can anyone help me out. and what are the installation position of the 98 suzuki Esteem GL for the cam sprokets. I need to know how to trouble shoot this thing. its getting worse. and it just keeps getting worse and worse. i don't know what to do. I keep her well maintained. but this hesitation thing is getting out of hand. anyone know why?

Thanks for all your help fellas i'll be glad to throw in some answers and questions too.LOL...good luck to you alll

[g2064]

2002 esteem here and i just broke apart the cover today and its a timing chain dam it reason for take apart is or was that about 6months ago i bout ngk iridium's for it and this past weak on of them broke into the pistion chamber why i have no clue i called ngk direct i told them all the info i had and they cant deem the plug defective until they c them. has this happend to anyone else or somthing simular . after the plug broke we went to the parts store and got another set drove home and while we were going over the speed down my street the car started hesitating got home took out the plugs that we had just bought and checked them out maybe thinking they broke again well they were not broken. only other thing i can think of is timing came off gear and caused the pistion to come to far up.

[wiselygang]

I'm in the process of changing the water pump and figured that while I have all the stuff out of the way I might as well change the timing belt. But for those of you thinking about doing the belt, the hardest part is getting everything out of your way. In my 95 Esteem, the AC lines run right in front of the belt cover.

I'm debating on wether to just loosen the lines and lose my freon or try to work around them. If i loosen the lines, is it just a matter of hooking them back up and then going to have my system re-charged? Or should I have them put a vacuum on it and the whole works? Any thought?

j