Actually, the 2.7L engine IS an interference engine, unlike the 3.3L in the 1996 model. A 2000 Intrepid came with either the 2.7L or the 3.2L.
To answer the OP's question, there is no recommended service interval on the 2.7s timing chain and water pump. There is, however, a significant issue with their failure on these engines, which some have alleged is due to an oil sludging problem. There have been reports of people exceeding 150,000 miles on the original chain, provided oil change maintenance is performed early using quality materials. Unfortunately, the only way to really check on the condition of your particular chain is to disassemble the timing cover, at which point a refresh of the chain and water pump only makes sense. My advice to you is to weigh this in terms of your budget. Since the failure if it happens will be catastrophic, and since replacement 2.7s have been in short supply, you may well find it makes more sense to replace the car should it happen. If you're in the position financially to get another car sometime within the next 20-50,000 miles, then I would say it makes sense to leave well enough alone, and make sure you maintain it well. If the new car purchase would be prohibitively expensive, necessitating costly repairs after the failure, then I would say go ahead and replace the chain and pump now if the funds to do so are available. It's relatively cheap insurance against the failure, and the maintenance may uncover a problem just waiting to happen. Make sure that you have the replaceable parts of the tensioner inspected carefully and replaced if necessary as well. I would only do this if the rest of the car was in good to excellent condition, by the way. As a final thought: there are people marketing kits designed to make the job of replacing a failed 2.7L with the better-designed 3.2L. 3.2Ls represented a smaller percentage of the overall mix, so they're a little tougher to find, but they are out there. If I had a failed 2.7, this would be the route I would take. Fortunately my car is already equipped with the 3.2. If you aren't sure which engine you have, check! The 3.2L recommends a timing BELT change at 104,000 miles, at which time a change of the water pump is also advised. Good luck! --Geoff On 4/27/06, Nathan E. Pralle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I have a 2000 Intrepid with about 104,000 miles on it. I plan on > > keeping it for awhile. Is it advisable to have the timing chain and > > water pump replaced as precautionary? It is still on the original > > timing chain and water pump. > > Although my water pump on my 1996 went out about that same time, you > don't have to replace them as precautionary until they actually go. The > Intrepid engine is not an interference engine, meaning that the valves > do not occupy the same space as the pistons during the cycle. Thus, > losing a timing chain (actually a belt, iirc) won't ruin the engine > unlike on, say, a Bug. > > Unless you have a great fear of being stopped on the road with a blown > water pump, I'd run her till she pops. The water pump is pretty common > after 100K, though, so you can expect it sooner or later. > > Nathan Web: <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid> Subscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Unsubscribe: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Moderator: <mailto://[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dodge_intrepid/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
