I own a 2010 Caravan with the 3.3L Flex Fuel Engine. Does it have a Timing Belt or Chain. And when does it need to be changed?

 

It is a chain and there is no recomended maintenance for it. It needs to be changed when it's worn out.

 

Thank You

 

Short of the chain breaking and destroying the interference engine, how do you know when it's worn out? Mine rattles madly at low RPMs when in gear but everything I find about it suggests that the cam and/or crank sprockets are just worn and that the Dodge stance is there's no harm in carrying on with the noise.

I still intend to replace the chain sometime soon because the noise bothers me but it hasn't been a priority. Maybe it should be.

 

That is the main indication, the rattle noise. I guess I've never seen one break a chain, I've seen them jump but not break.

 

I've changed 2 of them around 180K miles with a fair amount of slop in the chain. Change the oil pump as well and it'll run quietly with a little more pep since the cam is not late on its timing to the crank.