94 Rodeo V6 Engine? Non-Interference?

[Kit94Rodeo]

I have a 94 Rodeo V6 4WD and my timing belt went. I have been looking at info on web detailing interference vs non-interference engine. I see conflicting info - most manulas I run across giving info indicate 94 has a NON-interference engine, so timing belt failure should not have caused damage to the engine. But a few sites seem to indicate the engine is an "interference" type, and so the engine would probably be done. Can anyone clear up which engine type the 94 has? anything to clear this up would be appreciated!

[Cat Fuzz]

NON interference. There are people on this board who have physically confirmed this.

[trooperbc]

yeah, you've posted to the right place if you want to read a whole lot of fun posts on how it's 'rumored' to be an interference engine --

but:
all the 3.xL v6 isuzu engines are non interference engines. period.

just don't let that go to your head and use it as an excuse not to do that timing belt (and tensioner and waterpump) at 100,000 miles +/- , rain or shine....

[Ramblin Fever]

Mine slipt a tooth and still ran, but sounded god-awful horrible - don't know if that counts for anything, since it didn't actually break. I have since replaced it, truck's running better then it ever has.

[surferfletch]

Let us know how you make out when you throw a belt on there.

[Kit94Rodeo]

Well, it was an ugly situation - not only the timing belt gone. The water pump and tensioner were shot; the idle pulley had seized. It went from about $450 to over $700 in repairs just to see the engine was undamaged. I went ahead and had it done. And the engine is fine! So thanks to folks who responded to my question because without that I would probably have gone with the "manual's" description as an interference engine and written the Rodeo off.

[surferfletch]

Glad to hear you made out OK. All's well that ends well. That's not a bad price for all you had done. I would have swapped it all anyway.

[Kit94Rodeo]

Not the "final cost" - that's just what I was told would get me the other parts. All told, $1300 which included some additional maintenance once we were sure the engine was OK. The body is in good shape, so I wanted to save it. I'm happy enough not to face getting a new car. I must admit, I do like my Rodeo!

[Ramblin Fever]

That's about what I paid for my timing belt package too; it's not the parts that'll kill you, it's the labor.