2.4 Valve timing

Can anyone tell me if the 2.4 liter four in my '00 Voyager has a
timing belt or a timing chain? My last Chrysler product had a Mitsu
3.0 in it and that was a miserable timing belt that was tough to get
to. I know a lot of the newer cars have gone back to chains because
of the difficulty in maintaining belts, and the better reliability of
a chain.

 

The bad news... It's a belt

The good news... labor time is just 2.0 hours to replace it, so
it can't be all too difficult.

 

My 1998 Stratus has the 2.4 which has a belt. The recommend change is
at 101,000 miles.

For 2003 the belt tensioner was revised, and replaces the earlier
part. Using the new tensioner requires revised inner and outer belt
covers. When I had mine done a few months back, they used the same
tensioner.

-Kirk Matheson

 

More good news, it's a non-interference engine.

 

Bruce,

By now you know it has a belt. And in the manual replacement is
specified at 120,000 miles. Just had mine replaced at 102,000 due to a
loud racket at idle. Apparantly the belt tensioner failed, lost the
grease seal and bearing loose with imminent failure. Had the belt idler
replaced and also the timing belt covers as it has been updated. If you
obtain Mopar parts, which is what you need for the update, parts alone
will cost you nearly $400 at retail prices. I also replaced the water
pump which is a wise choice as it is easy to do at the time.

Chysler dealer quoted total repair including upgrade tensioner and
covers and water pump replacement just over $1,000!

I had the repair done by an idependent charging me labor with me picking
up all parts, Idler, Tension Idler Assembly, New Covers, New Water
Pump, New Timing Belt, Valve Cover Gasket, Spark Plug hole gaskets, and
new fluids. My total for the repair was just over $740.

Bruce, listen to the engine at idle, if you hear a racket which sounds
like valve noises but is not at a even repetitive cycle, your tensioner
could be failing. Mine had no grease in it as the seal was gone, and
the idler was not spinning smoothly. You could feel the roughness. The
belt was relatively fine with no cracks though I found a couple of teeth
with chunks out of it.

My 2.4 blew the head gasket at 54,000 miles and after a discussion with
DM, they reinbursed me for the repair less $100. Have replaced 4 sets
of front disc brake pads, 1 set of rotors, 1 set of rear drum lining.
Also had to put in a $2,200 Mopar 3 yr. 36,000 mile warranty
remanufactured tranny at 80,000. On my 3rd set of tires and just
replaced the battery.

Good luck,

Rich