# 2004 Buick LeSabre - Timing chain question **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** engines, buick\ **Created:** [June 4, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981 "2023-06-04T20:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jetengine111](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b38774/32.png) [@jetengine111](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jetengine111)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/1 "2023-06-04T20:47:44Z")
when to replace timing chain in 2004 lasabre ---
**Author:** ![weekend-warrior](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/weekend-warrior/32/26122_2.png) [@weekend-warrior](https://community.cartalk.com/u/weekend-warrior)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/2 "2023-06-04T22:49:21Z")
Your timing chain on your vehicle normally should last the life of your engine. A timing chain is not like a timing belt that needs to be changed at regular intervals. some engines have nylon timing chain guides that wear and will cause a slop in your chain. but I do not think your engine has them. A timing chain can stretch over time on a high mileage vehicle. The link below will give you some symptoms of a stretched chain. [Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Timing Chain | YourMechanic Advice](https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-timing-chain) just some more info… [When does the timing chain need to be replaced? (testingautos.com)](https://www.testingautos.com/car_care/when-does-the-timing-chain-need-to-be-replaced.html) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/3 "2023-06-05T18:26:01Z")
On my 3800s I had timing chain issues in the 250k to 350k mileage, but mostly due to the plastic gear material. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/4 "2023-06-06T13:15:40Z")
The 1st gen 3800’s would jump timing around 100K-120K miles due to the chain stretching and crappy nylon coated camshaft timing gear… They have since made a design change and they last much longer… If you are worried about it, take it an old school mechanic/engine builder and have them check for slack, he will know what to feel for… Little harder to do with tensioners against the chains now taking up the slack… ---
**Author:** ![glasspilot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/glasspilot/32/27886_2.png) [@glasspilot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/glasspilot)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 2:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/5 "2023-06-06T14:42:15Z")
My 1999 Chevy Monte Carlo had the 3800. I was anal about the oil changes so no problems with the T chain. My model years had problems with the upper intake manifold leaking so at some point I replaced it with the newer designed one. Sold it with 220,000 miles, engine running great! (Now drive a 2017 Chevy Volt!) ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/6 "2023-06-06T15:03:23Z")
I had a 1998 Regal LS with the 3.8L and had no problems with the timing chain. We sold it with about 180,000 miles. Didn’t use oil either. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/7 "2023-06-06T18:39:25Z")
Don’t remember the mileage but somewhere around 250k, car just stalled at a stop light Friday night no warning. Place it was towed to said engine was shot. Towed it home 50 miles Saturday morning and paid $120 or so for the timing kit and gaskets. Had it going again by Sunday afternoon. Hardest part was getting the balancer off with no engine resistance. I think I finally used a block of wood jammed on the crankshaft after trying everything else. Pretty critical to pack the oil pump with Vaseline that was only mentioned in the factory manual. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/8 "2023-06-06T20:09:00Z")
GM _redesigned_ the timing chain late 80’s early 90’s, after putting an all steel cam gear on it the chains lasted way longer… Mine was a 1987 and a friends was a 1986 3.8L… Very strong engines for there size… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/9 "2023-06-06T21:01:03Z")
My 86 still had the plastisol on the gears that gave way. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/10 "2023-06-06T21:13:45Z")
Then you were very lucky as they were known for jumping time and bending valves, mine jumped but didn’t bend any valves, I was very surprised back then… lol ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2004-buick-lesabre-timing-chain-question/190981/11 "2023-06-06T23:55:33Z")
50 year old 200k+ mile Ford truck still has original timing chain – knock on wood … lol … chain stretch damaging cogs is pretty common problem bicyclists have to deal with, and can often be difficult to find the parts needed to solve it. I think bicycles shops like it when customer comes in with this problem b/c a good opportunity to tell the customer how difficult & expensive the fix will be, gives an incentive to buy a new bicycle. Usually however just need a new chain and near rear cogs or freewheel. Last time it happened to me I installed a new chain and a used freewheel, been working great.