I have a 2001 Daewoo Leganza with a bad camshaft position sensor. Since I need to remove the timing belt cover to replace it, I decided to replace the timing belt at the same time. According to the service manual the timing belt should be replaced at 72,000 miles, except in Califonia it is good for 102,000! This is an interference engine and I don’t want to wreck it, but why do timing belts last longer in California? Where can I get a Califonia timing belt?
You will be lucky to obtain ANY timing belt.
If you want to err on the safe side, you will heed the elapsed time value for timing belt replacement, which is never longer than 8 years, no matter what the make of vehicle may be, and no matter what the odometer mileage may be.
In other words, the belt needs to be replaced NOW, on the basis of elapsed time.
As to the difference in mileage limits for belt replacement, pay no attention to what resulted from a difference in bureaucratic requirements in differing states. The belts don’t differ from state to state, and belts don’t last longer in California, but the people in the various state legislatures (who usually have ZERO automotive knowledge) do differ. And, trust me, if the belt snapped on a California car prior to 102k, the bankrupt state gov’t would not pay for something that resulted from the bone-headed wording of some regulatory bit of legislation.
I assume you are refering to finding parts for daewoo’s in general!? I agree that parts take a little more effort to find, but my local Autozone actually had the camshaft position sensor in stock and the timing belt had a 1-day lead time.
The only reason I can think of for timing belts lasting longer in California is that you’ve got a different engine than the other 49 states (CA’s stricter emission standards somehow entering into it), and it happens to have a longer-lasting belt. Since you’ve got to go in there anyway, go ahead and replace the belt – no harm doing it, and who knows if you’ll have trouble in the future getting Daewoo parts?
Oh, good grief! This looks like the start (continuation?) of an urban myth! There is NO difference in the timing belts on any of the cars in ANY state. The difference in the numbers is the result of the various state legislatures passing laws on the recommended change intervals. The wear rate/age deterioration rate does NOT change because of legislations passed.
Hello, Myth Busters! Here is another one for you!
have you got a tech manual?
the timing belt is marked with arrows on it. they go point inward when you put it on the car.
www.rockauto.com has timing belts, tensioners and pulleys for the car.
the marks on the cam gears, crank pulley are ‘dots’ machined into the gears.
when you get the timing cover off, you will notice there are 3 small (almost unnoticeable) dents in the timing cover frame. actually they are small “v” notches.
they line up with the ‘dots’ on the gears. look at the marks and "v"s prior to removal. the belt tensioner is tightened with an Allen head wrench, once you loosen the center bolt you can rotate the tensioner to have enough slack to remove and reinstall the belt.
after you change the belt, using a wrench, manually turn the main crank over two complete revolutions. the timing marks MUST line up when they come back around. if they don’t, redo the belt installation. you MUST do this two revolution check. it is not an option.
you will need to make a support bar to support the right side of the engine. and you will have to remove the right side motor mount. I found the air intake plenum was a pain to remove, but it made SO much more room to work it was worth the time.
invest in a torque wrench. i dont have the manual now, but iirc the torque was 18 to 25 ft lbs on all the bolts, and around 40 ftlbs on the motor mounts.
if you value the car, you should change the water pump while you are in there. its only 4 more bolts, under the timing belt.
go to the rockauto site. they have numerous parts.
hellokit–Thank you for confirming my beliefs regarding those unique “California” maintenance schedules.
to replace the cam pos sensor you shouldn’t need to remove the timing belt cover, just the valve cover. a small right angle slotted screwdriver is needed to loosen the CPS pull the old on out, unplug, plug in the new one, and slide it into the slot and tighten the screw.