1997 2.2 questions-->plz help

[schumimtl]

Hi.
I've had a good deal on a 1997 sunfire and I've bought it. (2300$ canadian with 133k km).
Last night when driving home from a 75km trip, on my way back the odometer stopped working. Everything else works, but the km don't change anymore, and a hear a sound that compares to a scratch. I can feel the odometer wanting to change km, but it's almost like it skips a tooth or two and not turning anymore. This is very annoying, as the sound is pretty loud.
My question: anybody has seen this on a 97' sunfire? what can it be? is it hard to get to the back of instrument cluster to check the wire? I'm thinking maybe I got screwed, the guy turned back the odometer to sell the car faster and now it doesn't work anymore... I don't know.
Also, do the 97 sunfires with 2.2 manual tranny and two doors, do they have a timing belt or chain? if it's a chain, when should I change it, same thing with the belt.
anybody who can help, please post.
thanks.

[hotbug1776]

only when the chain makes noise (never usually happens) do you change it. inspect the belt for cracks or broken spots, if damaged, change it. if you have to change something else in the meantime (alternator, waterpump, etc) then yes, get a new belt just to get it out of the way.

on to the odometer...best bet is to Dealer it, but you can do it yourself. it is quite involved as you must remove the entire dash to get to the cluster. and then the only way you can fix it is to replace the entire cluster. remember, you MUST report the Odometer being incorrect when selling the car (at least in the US, but it rarely happens). if the seller turned back the Odometer, you would see the damage on the numbers form the prying tool used.

[schumimtl]

Hi.
Thanks a lot for the answer.
First off, when I drove the car today, the odometer was working again!! I didn't touch nothing, it just worked like it was never broken. Thanks god.
I'm in Montreal, Canada, and here too we have to report the milage every time a car is sold/ bought. But still, people might do stupid things to get some more money.
As for the timing belt/chain, I looked today and the belt seems to be fine. However, I can see the timing belt when I opened the hood. It's my first Pontiac/GM car, but is it normal that the timing belt is visible? I was used to timing belts being hidden with a plastic cover or something. Let me know.
Thanks.
sorin.

ps: the car does make a weird noise when driver, (similar to kind of a whistle as a accelarate) but I guess it must be the weather or the power steering.
Let me know what u think. )
and one more question:
I'm thinking of profesionaly installing a remote starter on the car (it gets pretty cold here in the winter). Did people have problem with this, or it is recommended?
thanks.

[hotbug1776]

if it's a 2.2L you can't see the timing belt, because it's a chain, under a cover behind and above the crank pulley. the belts you see are the accessory belts, usually only one turning all the accessories.

as for the remote starter, you have a manual trans? if so then you can't get a remote starter. for one it's illeagal due to the dangers, and two, they dont make one for a manual transmission, it has to be custom made. Even then it's still not safe.

[schumimtl]

Thanks again for the answers.
Yes, it'a manual transmision. I guess I'll forget about the remote starter then.
And you're right, it's not the timing chain I saw, is the accesory belt..
Correct me if I'm wrong, but timing chains usualy last for a long long long time. Sometime the life of the vehicle. If so, why isn't everybody using chains instead of belts?? Are there any disadvantages?
The car has 130.000 km on it, and I'm pretty sure nobody changed the timing belt. If it's a belt then I have to change it, if it's a chain, then I won't.
let me know .
thanks again.

[hotbug1776]

it's a chain. the disadvantage is chains stretch and sprockets wear, it takes a long time usually. kinda the same with the belts, but belts are quieter, vibrate less, and have less parts to break under a load. also belts are ALOT cheaper to replace than chains and are better for turning the accessories along with the cams one belt to do it all. Can you imagine the size of the chain you would need to use?

the only belt on my Sunfire is for the AC and the ALT, everything else runs off the timing chain. it's been replaced once already. I just replaced my belt, but it was still good, I'll use it as an emergency belt, just in case my Gatorback breaks ever.

[hopeless4life]

Yes you can get a remote start for a standard and no the are not illegal they are very common, but yes a pain in the ass to put in as they have so many extra wires to hook up for safety. Actually the company that supplies our remote starts is a quebec based company, Autostart http://www.autostart.ca , which is the first company to ever make one, arguably. With a standard remote start it doesn't start the same as an automatic you must first set it into ready mode. which with autostart you must have the vehicle running, put it into neutral, pull the e-brake, push the start button, the parking lights will flash, then you turn the key off, the car will continue to run, you exit the vehicle then shut it off with the remote transmitter, it is now ready to start. It is safe because it will not remote start with the e-brake off, and if any of the vehicles doors are open after you set it up it will not remote start. This meaning that after you exited the vehicle with it running there is no way someone could put it in gear without the remote starter shutting down. It is safe but no I don't have one in my car