Is the Malibu unnecisarily beat on?

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11-24-2002, 04:07 PM

#31

guionM

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Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: The Golden State

Posts: 13,711

Quote:

Originally posted by redzed
Maybe its just me, but a timing belt is a MANDATORY service item. If a car has one, the owner should treat its replacement interval pretty seriously. Other than that, a Honda's "mandatory" service intervals are pretty conservative. If anything, they seem to be more written around dealer service department profitability than neccessity.

I've never had a car that it was required or reccomended. 1985 Mustang 5.0, 225,000 on 1 timing chain. Thunderbird SC, 140,000 on 1 timing chain. Even my 78 Monza was pushing 130,000, again on a single timing chain with 1970s technology.

Japanese manufacturers use belts instead of chains for a few reasons:
* Quieter operation.
* Japanese markets are based on getting people to buy. Cars made there are purposely made to become more expensive the longer you keep them....even the taxes on registration is built against older cars.
* Finally, as you hit it on the head, dealer service profitability !