# Timing Chain or Belt

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** mazda\
**Created:** [August 1, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680 "2013-08-01T23:45:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JakeSlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@JakeSlick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JakeSlick)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680/1 "2013-08-01T23:45:41Z")

</div>

I have a 2007 Madza 5 in researching this vehicle I have found conflicting information as to does it have a timing belt or chain? It getting to be time to replace the belt if it has one. Thanks for any help with this.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680/2 "2013-08-01T23:48:50Z")

</div>

Gates lists no belt, so it seems like it uses a chain. Who says it uses a belt?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680/3 "2013-08-02T02:20:14Z")

</div>

The Gates book is an excellent source of information.  
Another good source is your owners’ manual. If you have a belt, it’ll recommend a change frequency in the included manufacturer’s recommended maitenance schedule. No recommendation = no belt.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ad7895/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan2)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 9:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680/4 "2013-08-02T09:18:14Z")

</div>

If you can’t see plastic on the front end of the engine, you have a chain.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![JakeSlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@JakeSlick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JakeSlick)\
**Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 6:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain-or-belt/80680/5 "2013-08-02T18:13:54Z")

</div>

Thanks for the info. I figured it was a chain but I had some question this. So I figured that all the car talk people out there would set me right. Anyway, better safe than sorry if it was a belt and I failed to replace it. Thanks again.