Service schedule for 100,000+ miles

Follow the same mileage/time intervals that were recommended prior to

100k miles.

The 3.8 has a timing chain, not a belt. I would only replace it if some other service needs to be performed in that area, such as replacing a gasket on the timing case cover. It may develop some slack at very high mileage so that the valve timing isn't as stable and precise as it was early on, but it is very unlikely to jump time because it uses metal gears.

Just keep taking care of it. Change the oil, coolant, and other fluids as you always have. Don't neglect it or put off maintenance on the assumption that "it won't last long enough to really need that" because that tends to become a self-fulfilling prophecy ;) We just retired my wife's Chrysler LH car with 256,000 miles on it, and I suspect whoever buys it will get a few more years good service out of it.

Steve - I don't know this engine, so I'm asking for my learning (or maybe to catch you in a mistake - Ha - not likely!): Is the water pump on that engine driven by the timing chain? I'm curious as The 2.7L engine in my Concorde has a timing chain (I know it's not the same engine) - nice, since timing chains generally last the life of the vehicle - EXCEPT they have the water pump driven by the chain, and of course water pumps do fail. (I did the timing chain, water pump, and oil pump about 3 months ago at 207k miles as a preventative - I was probably lucky the water pump lasted that long - they have been known to come apart and do damage (if not bearing damage from leaking coolant into the engine if the owner/driver was not paying attention, then suddenly locking up and pretty much doing catastrophic damage to the engine).

Anyway - I mainly just wanted to get confirmed for the OP that the water pump was not driven off the timing chain on that GC.

Right. Not sure about your 2k2 but on the '90s 3.3/3.8 to remove the water pump you: drain the coolant

remove the serpentine belt

wrap the belt around the water pump pulley strap wrench style and remove the

3 bolts holding the pulley on

remove the 5 bolts holding the water pump to the volute cast into the timing cover.

The pump seals to the timing cover with a large O-ring and in my case I didn't even have to remove the wheel well splash shield although that probably would have made the job slightly easier.

Doing a water pump on the 3.3 or 3.8L is very simple, but I never removed the belt pulley. I simply removed the entire belt by simply de-tensioning the belt tensioner (15mm bolt head as I recall).

Also, access is much, much easier through the passenger side front wheel well after removing the wheel and the plastic inner fender shield. My last comment is that at 100K+ miles, if you are replacing the pump, it is a very good idea to replace the serpentine belt and also consider replacing the tensioner and idler too if they are making any noise at all.

Bob

"Daniel Who Wants to Know" wrote >>>

Thanks everyone! I posted this in the Dodge usenet group and got nothing.

The van just turned over 110,000 miles. On very cold mornings it does make a slight squeak squeak for a few minutes. I figure it is the serpentine tensioner. The serpentine belt is still in good shape - and as far as I know the water pump is still good.

My 97 3.8L engine didn't fair so well, but other than a tranny rebuild at

12,000 and again at 30,000 (don't ask!) and then a A/C condenser and oil pan replacement it has been good and strong.

It is in desperate need of a oil change and probably could use a throttle body service soon as well.

I was just trying to get an idea of what servies should be done and when.

"Bob Shuman" wrote in news:wWd9l.8290$ snipped-for-privacy@flpi149.ffdc.sbc.com: