3.5 Timing Chain/Tensioner R/R

Just taking a poll here as to how many of us actually encountered issues with our timing chains and/or tensioners on 3.5 Intrigues which resulted in the removal and replacement. Thanks for your input. Remember YOU make the difference. ;)

90k miles and no problems.

60 k, no problem. I would be pretty sad if I had to deal with it. I've looked the procedure over in the factory manual. It doesn't look fun, and it requires special tools. Another reason to keep the oil real clean. You don't want an oil-filled tensioner to become gunked up and collapse.

I've seen tensioners collapse on the quad-4 grand am motors, causing the timing chain to jump. It can trash the cylinder head and valves right quick.

I've seen tensioners collapse on the quad-4 grand am motors, causing the timing chain to jump. It can trash the cylinder head and valves right quick.

The Northstar engines are non-interference engines, not sure about the Shortstar but Im gonna go out on a limb and say its probably the same way. So even if the timing chain had a problem I dont think this would happen, I may be off base with that though.

I think you are wrong about the shortstar being non-interference.

I don't know first hand, but the tech at the dealer in Rockford told me he has seen (on rare occasions) the balance shaft bearings have gone bad and scattered the motor as a result of a timing chain jump.

Oh im sure its quite possible, I was just saying that everything Ive ever read says the Northstar engines are non-interference, so I was merely speculating that their Shortstar derivitive was the same way.