Where did u get your info?..first time I have heard this....I have an 06 NA build...of course only 40K on it but would like to know more about the timing chain.Depends on what you mean by maintain and expensive...... is it a Redline or an NA???? The following list pertains mostly to Redline (turbo), but can happen to NA....
A few things to note.....
Timing chain after 80k and especially on early '07 as the guides were inferior and weak....$2k+ at dealer.... (Redline).
This information looks WAY scarier than it actually is...Depends on what you mean by maintain and expensive...... is it a Redline or an NA???? The following list pertains mostly to Redline (turbo), but can happen to NA....
A few things to note.....
Waterpump usually goes around the 50k-60k mark...$1400-$1800 at the dealer (both cars)
HPFP can go after 80k....about $700 at dealer (Redline)
Timing chain after 80k and especially on early '07 as the guides were inferior and weak....$2k+ at dealer.... (Redline)
Valves cake up with carbon as do all DI motors....usually around 80k, some sooner, some later....price: unknown....(Redline)
Camshaft solenoids: any mileage $79/each (2 of them) very easy repair
Oil changes in Redline must be full synthetic...$80
Fuel in Redline must be premium...no regular!!
All of these cars are getting to the age where they're going to need new TPMS sensors...$60/each (Both)
All of the fluids should have been changed and most should be on the second round coming up (brake, steering, trans, diff, oil, coolant) about $1000 (both)
Battery lasts about 4 to 7 years....$100 if you do it yourself...$250 for dealer (Both)
Now this being said, these are what are very common on most of these cars. Is it meant to scare you? No. It's meant to prepare you. I'm the Debbie-Downer of the group and my glass is never full!! Are they fun cars? ABSOLUTELY!!! Would I recommend one? Yes, if it's a second or third car, not primary, and you have the means should something arise.... They are quirky little cars...but what car isn't? Main questions to ask a seller....
Has the waterpump been replaced? If so, when?
Has every oil change been full synthetic? (redline)
If it is a Redline, has it been tuned?
Original tires?
Original battery? (just replaced mine this year and it's an '08)
There are many more things to look for, but in all, they are terrific little cars and a blast to drive...not too mention attention getters...
Nothing like EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.....sometimes. :grin:This information looks WAY scarier than it actually is...
First off, if you have any mechanical know-how, or are good at learning working on this car is very easy and enjoyable. Most of the time.
Water Pump, entire kit to replace yourself(which ive done, easy job) $65 for ACDelco on Amazon.
Timing Chain kit(also did at the same time), $55 ACDelco on Amazon.
Camshaft Solenoids(intake AND exhaust), $25 together on Amazon.
Ive not replaced my Fuel Pump yet, but I do know that performance Autowerks sells an improved one for $160, just came across it recently. and Fuel pumps are VERY easy to replace.
Get an early 07 model like mine and you wont have TPMS to worry about. lol
Fluids...just do yourself, save some money
and im not sure where you are buying your oil...but you can get a 5qt of Royal Purple off Amazon for $35 now, and a wiccs filter, for $10-15. And for me at least, its even cheaper local.
Maintenance is all about what you can do and what you have to have done. Don't be afraid to do research and figure out how to do the work yourself. If you think you can do it, go save some money. I am 100% self taught, and ive had 0 problems doing this work.
Just have to learn enough to be confident you wont damage anything. and none of those jobs are anything difficult.Nothing like EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.....sometimes. :grin:
Your timing chain was just that, a chain...nothing else at $55 right? Unless it was Chinese garbage. Because Cloyes is $105 and $92 for the entire kit of sprockets, guides and chain for both timing and balancer...so you couldn't have done your balancer for that price.... And your balancer chain is what runs the WP and usually is the part where the guides fail...not the timing chain on the 2.0L. I couldn't find anything less then about $200 for both kits from ACDelco.....so I'm guessing it was just the chain, which isn't really what fails..it's more the guides and tensioners that fail.This information looks WAY scarier than it actually is...
Water Pump, entire kit to replace yourself(which ive done, easy job) $65 for ACDelco on Amazon.
Timing Chain kit(also did at the same time), $55 ACDelco on Amazon.
Camshaft Solenoids(intake AND exhaust), $25 together on Amazon.
guides and all, whole kit. Check amazon. they carry ACDelco parts a lot cheaper than a lot of places. It very well may have been on a sale when I got it, but it definitely wasn't some $200 plus.Your timing chain was just that, a chain...nothing else at $55 right? Unless it was Chinese garbage. Because Cloyes is $105 and $92 for the entire kit of sprockets, guides and chain for both timing and balancer...so you couldn't have done your balancer for that price.... And your balancer chain is what runs the WP and usually is the part where the guides fail...not the timing chain on the 2.0L. I couldn't find anything less then about $200 for both kits from ACDelco.....so I'm guessing it was just the chain, which isn't really what fails..it's more the guides and tensioners that fail.
MONEY! If they can save a nickel per car, and they build thousands, that's a lot of money. They don't care if it costs you more later. :|I wish manufacturers wouldn't integrate water pump drives into the engine.
I've been involved in water pump changes on engines like the original Lotus twin cam, which had the pump built into the front timing case, so the whole front of the engine had to come off to service it.
Best version are the pumps that are self contained so they just unbolt and bolt on (my DOHC MG engines and the early Lamborghini did that). I guess they save a bit of engine length by integrating them in the cover but it makes later servicing a horror show.
While we are at it, I don't know why so many engines opt for a simplex timing chain. A duplex design takes up very little more space, and are far more reliable, as well as less likely to wear as quickly. But I guess that at least they are better than timing belts that destroy the top end of your engine when they let go if you happen to have an 'interference' engine.
Sometimes what seems like a really good idea on paper turns out to be a problem. Although in defense of the design, only longitudinal (and primarily turbo) engines experience significant failure rates.I wish manufacturers wouldn't integrate water pump drives into the engine.
While we are at it, I don't know why so many engines opt for a simplex timing chain. A duplex design takes up very little more space, and are far more reliable, as well as less likely to wear as quickly. But I guess that at least they are better than timing belts that destroy the top end of your engine when they let go if you happen to have an 'interference' engine.
Like most design and manufacturing decisions this one isn't quite so simplistic. Yes, cost plays a part, but design-to-function is also a factor.MONEY! If they can save a nickel per car, and they build thousands, that's a lot of money. They don't care if it costs you more later. :|
The wear on a simplex is double or (some think) more, and the added mass is insignificant. The usual reason for going to single chain is cheapness (MGBs used simplex on their last models, but duplex all the way back on everything else).Whether simplex or duplex, the chain drive is designed for the load it is expected to be under. Modern valve gear requires less energy to operate, so a simplex drive can be used. The duplex chain is heavier, as are the duplex sprockets, so by going simplex the drive can be correspondingly lighter.
“Simplify, then add lightness”, he said.
It was his philosophy, way before ‘minimalism’ became fashionable.
“Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere”, was another of Chapman’s premises.
Hard to say. My 2008 Redline, so far, has neededI’m planning to buy a 2007 Saturn Sky but I know nothing about the maintenance cost.
Not too bad. It's certainly not a hybrid but it's not uncommon to get 30 mpg on the highway with them either.Are they expensive to drive cause of premium gas?
If you put on a tune certainly no point using 87 octane. Also, the tune may skew spark advance control so that it can't retard enough to control knock with 87. We had a big block built up '65 Chevy wagon with long term low level detonation that couldn't be felt. End result was cracked piston heads with pieces of skirts in the oil pan. Found out when an odd vibration crept into the motor.Are they expensive to drive cause of premium gas?