I know that this is way too early to even be thinking about the timing belt/chain, but I was wondering if it breaks, does it take out the engine as well? Because coming from owning a neon (timing belt snapped and had to replace the valves and pistons!), I dont really want another engine that does this. I know there are correct names for the types of engines im talking about but I cant remember.

 

i think you mean interference motors and well im not to sure about any of the Scion cars on whether or not they are so maybe someone will elaborate

-X

 

As I understand it from previous threads, the TC has a chain, which is far better than a belt. But, should it break, it will cause damage.

 

not sure if it is interference or not. But I do know that it is a chain and not a belt (thank god!!). Typically, under normal driving, a chain will last about as long as the engine. Keep in mind I say typically.

 

Yes! Thats the word. Sorry bout the whole belt/chain thing, seeing as I dont have my tC yet, I didnt really know what it came with. Thanks for the replies.

 

neon, psh. you almost have to expect it to break and cause damage with a neon. you have a timing chain in your tC, don't worry about it. if it snaps...you'll be one in a million, plus i'm pretty sure it would be under warranty.
plus - IT'S A TOYOTA! it doesn't die

 

lol I drove two neons. Both of which had their head gasket replaced multiple times

As for the tC, I'm pretty sure it's a non-interferenece engine - I remember reading that in one of my service manuals

 

Ha, the neon, my first NEW car, and buying it was probably the stupidest thing I've ever done in my life. My timing belt went wrong on me in that car too, along with a lot of other things, I don't even remember everything because I try so hard to forget I ever owned that car, and what's sad is I actually liked the car at first and it was what I wanted for some crazy reason, I bought it new with a 60K/5 year warranty (thank god-kinda).

The most annoying repairs:

1) Used warranty service on broken gaskets 6 times in the 5 years/43000 miles I owned the car. I still have those nice oil marks in my carport.

2) Somewhere around the 2 year mark transmission was replaced.

3) The brakes on this car were just lovely, it sounded like there were 100 rats in my rotors the day I took it off the lot until the car died finally. Replacing the brakes, having them inspected repeatedly was useless, they'd squeel again after a couple days

4) A/C broke after just under 3 years, had maybe 30000 miles at the time. The dealer wouldn't replace it, said it wasn't covered in warranty, which was just wrong because the car was still not even in the extended area of the warranty yet. Living in AZ this is not good, had to pay to get it fixed and it was almost 1000 bucks. This wasn't at the dealer either, this was just a local mechanic. Turns out that this car wasn't engineered very well (DUH), one of the lines was rubbing against the frame of the car, and it busted, taking the compressor along with it.

5) A couple years later, not even one month after my 60 month warranty ended, the car died with only 43k miles on it. The timing belt, which had been replaced way early just 2 years prior, snapped, and took out the motor along with it, and the cost of repair was more than what the car was worth to me. Sold the dead hunk of junk to a friend for just under 1000 dollars, and he actually fixed it. I was saving some money at the time of the car's death to buy a new car cash, ended up getting a 2003 corolla S financed which was against my original plan to never finance a car. 2 years later I got sick of the corolla because I bought it out of desperation, and traded it in for this TC which I had to finance as well. I am pretty much positive I'm going to be financinng cars for the rest of my life at this point.

BOTTOM LINE:
What a waste of money, I will never buy anything made by chrysler again.

 

Sounds just like a chrysler! Especially the tranny issues. They dont make a good tranny, and havent in 40 years!! Just judging from aquaintences and my fathers customers, the neon is one of the most troublesome vehicles out there! Glad you got out of that one!