Chrysler 2.4L DOHC timing belt questions

[Jeffksf B]

So I'm helping a buddy out and helping him fix his 2001 Sebring 4dr. His timing belt went last week luckily he was on his street. I got into it today and I've done timing belts before but always before they broke. Seeing how this one chewed up some teeth on the belt while it was running the timing is off. This is a non interference engine so I'm not worried about a ruined engine but I am worried about getting the cams and the crank back in time with each other. I found TDC on number 1 cylinder and I put the cam marks where they are supposed to be. But how do I know it's on the right stroke and rotation? Do i have to hook up a compression tester on #1 cyl to see if its on the compression stroke or do the marks on the crank pulley only line up on the compression stroke? Do I have to pull the valve cover to make sure all 4 valves are closed on #1 or do the cam gear marks only line up on the compression stroke of #1 cylinder? Basically can I just line up all the marks and put the new belt on or do I have to do more investigative work since this belt failed while running?

 

[scott degroot]

Be warned that this is AN INTERFERENCE ENGINE..no matter if it is the 2.4 or the 3.0...that doesn't mean that it will bend the valves if the belt lets go it just means that the possibility is there. No need to worry about which stroke the engine is on as it would be impossible to have all the timing marks line up correctly and be wrong.



Which engine is in this thing?

 

[EddieS'04]

If it was the 2.5L sohc, I could help. Just need to find my book and scan the info.

 

[Jeffksf B]

Read the title again 2.4L DOHC 4cyl. Everything I've read says the SOHC is a interference and the DOHC is not.

 

[EddieS'04]

Jeff I dont know about the 2.4L DOHC. I do know the '90s era 2.5L SOHC was non interference.



Sorry for the confussion. Just wishing I could help.

 

[scott degroot]

My bad on the title..regardless I can guarantee you without a doubt in my mind the 2.4 engine is an interfernce engine and like I said before it doesn't guarantee that if the belt breaks it will bend valves but it's possible. Make sure that you do the balance shaft belt while you are in there and replace all the idlers and the tensioner as well and might as well put a water pump in it too

 

[Jeffksf B]

Take a look at this refernce chart on Gates site

The DOHC is non interference, the SOHC is though.

 

[EddieS'04]

The 2.5L SOHC is non-interference. I had one. Threw the belt at 50mph. No motor damage.:cheeky:

 

[Jeffksf B]

Well I got it done today, took me about 5-6 tries to get the timing belt on and the marks perfect but I started it and it ran perfectly. I didn't check compression nor did I pull the valve cover to check the valves. Overall it took me about 15 hrs over 3 different days. That included 3 trips to the parts store, and redoing the steel coolant pipes for the heater core, they were rotted out and as soon as I got near them they started leaking. They are routed right between the strut tower and the timing cover. I ended up converting those to all rubber hose. Highly doubt I could have gotten new steel ones in place w/o pulling the engine. It could have went alot quicker if I knew exactly what had to be moved or removed ahead of time to access everything.

Her is the list of everything I did have to remove: Timeing covers(3), Coolant resivour, Powersteering resivour, power steering pump, Alternator, alternator mounting bracket, Serpentine belt, serpentine belt tensioner, Front engine mount, Pasenger side engine mount, Flywheel. And for every one of those parts I pretty much had to raise and lower the engine multiple times to access bolts or position things.

Just to give you an idea of how cramped the engine compartment is on this car, the battery is accessed thru the drivers side front wheel well after you remove. the wheel and inner fender liner.

Looking forward to doing my Saturn VUE's timing belt very soon, it has a 3.5L Honda V6, and it looks like it has a lot more room on that side of the engine than this Chrysler.