My saturn needs a new timing belt. does it have

A "valve job" typically means resurfacing the valve seats. It is unlikely you would need that after the timing belt broke unless you needed it before the timing belt broke - they aren't related wear items. Depending on the engine (if it is an "interference" engine) you may need new valves or a new top end of the engine because the valves may collide with the pistons when the timing belt breaks, causing a lot of damage. If your engine is not of the "interference" design type, then you probably only need a new timing belt; many shops also recommend replacing the water pump too because its failure can often damage even a new timing belt and there usually is no (or very little) additional labor cost involved. Other maintenance might also be recommended at the same time (like replacing spark plugs), but that too depends on your specific engine.

What exactly do you need to know about replacing the timing chain? Also you should note that the L200 (4 cyl) has a timing chain. The L300 (V-6) has a timing belt.

Another thing to note is that both of these are interference engines. If your timing chain (or belt) has failed and the engine will not start, the valves are likely bent and you may have damaged the pistons as well.

You either have the belt 180 degrees off. So you have to take belt off and turn crank only (slowly) around once to its mark again, but first you need to go to a website that lists motors that are called "interference fit" engines. (Think Gates belt co. has a list) If your motor is an interference fit then when belt broke the motor is trashed. Interference fit means that pistons can hit valves if the belt breaks. That is why they tell you to replace the timing belt before too long. Also if motor is interference fit when you try and turn crank go slow because you may bump into valve.

Don't condemn the head just yet.

When the timing belt breaks, the camshaft stops turning, so the relative position of valves doesn't' change if you try cranking the motor over. Any valves (intake or exhaust) that aren't fully seated will allow pressure to "blow by" that other wise would form the compression you say you no longer have.

What I'm not sure of is if you have an "interference" motor. An referenced motor is one in which the piston can strike a valve head when the timing belt breaks. The clearances are so close that all moving parts have to be in perfect sync in order to operate and not strike one another.

It is possible, with an interference engine, to break valves and / or crack a piston if attempting to crank and the piston comes in contact with an open valve.

If it isn't an interference engine, you shouldn't have any problems. Just get the cam and crank (and any other shaft(s) that may be belt driven) in proper timing, install a new belt, apply the correct tension and you're basically "good to go"

I'd suggest you purchase a vehicle specific repair manual at your auto parts store. It'll contain step by step instructions specific to your vehicle on how to perform this repair.

Good luck!

First you need to find out if the engine is an interference engine or free running. If an interference engine, it means the valves will interfere with the pistons if they become out of time--like when a timing belt breaks. this means the valves will hit the pistons and vice versa. Usually the valves are bent and the cylinder head must be removed to get to the bent valves and replace them. If the engine is free running, the valves and pistons will miss each other if they become untimed. So all that is needed in this case is a new timing belt. Much, much easier and less costly than removing the cylinder head.

To find out if your engine is free running or interference, check out this website:

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=2256&location_id=3487

scroll down and look for the interference check.

2006 Saturn Vue with a 3.5L engine V-6, Saturn recommends replacing timing belt every 100,000 miles, also replace water pump, due to it is timing belt driven, this is an interference engine which piston to valve damage will occur in the event of timing belt failure.Hope this was very helpful.

Most Ford vehicles from 1985 and up have enough valve clearence so the valves do not get hit when the timing belt snaps. Since I worked for ford for many years I have only seen one with valve damage and the youg man said he was driving his car really hard at high RPM's. I believe you will be okay on your engine as long as when the belt broke the engine was not at high rpm's. If know one has told you those engine recommend a timing belt replacement every 60k. I hpe this helped and I hope this fixes your problem. Good luck, Roger

According to my research it is an interference engine. Meaning if your timing belt broke, you could have damage to the valves and pistions.

WOW - DID THE BELT BREAK WHILE IT WAS RUNNING IF SO THE VALVES ARE BEND THATS WHY YOU HAVE NO COMPRESSION.
IF YOU HAD THE BELT REPLACED AND THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIMING MARKS RIGHT YOU CAN STILL BEND THE VALVES.
9 TIMES OUT OF 10 THE DAMAGE IS JUST TO THE VALVES AND NOT THE HEAD OR ENGINE. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO PULL THE HEAD MY ADVISE IS TO HAVE THE HEAD CHECKED FOR CNY CRACKS

If your timing belt came off when the motor was running, there 2 possible scenarios:

Motors are interference (pistons hit valves if motor spins <=2 revolutions without a functioning belt/chain) or not.

1. if kia 1.8 motor is an "interference" engine ... major damage already occured, at best valve stems are bent and you have to pull the head to install new valves, at worst, a piston now has a hole in it and you get to do a full rebuild.  I'm now praying for you;~).

2. if it's not an interference engine ... joy is you,  you rotate the cams whichever way you want and pistons do not hit valves ... and as they say in England "Bobs your uncle" ... ask a Brit.

I'm guessing that Kia doesn't build an interference motor with a belt ... the dealer or any shop with access to a good paid automotive database can tell you if the motor is interference or not. 

The standard explaination for rotating forward ... which is not necessarily clockwise, has to do with tensiong the belt and how you get the tensioner in the correct position to do its job ,,, which is to keep the timing belt from jumping teeth.  Each motor can be slightly different for tensioning the belt, so you need the specific instructions for your year car with the 1.8 motor.  If the manual says you need special Kia tool "XYZ" ... get it or an close equivalent, don't try to use a pair of vicegrips clamped to a  screwdriver. 

You need to spend $20 for a Haynes manual for your car.  Now you or I might think for a minute that what they say in the haynes manual isn't the easiest way ... but then we would probably be wrong. 

Having done several timing belts, engine rebuilds and general maintenance over the years ... I can tell you this sincerely ... advice from someone (haynes in your case) who has actaully done the job you are embarking on is worth more than $20 if you are doing a job that takes more than a couple of hours.  The specific stepwise instructions they have will get you successfully to the place where you have a new timing belt and the motor runs right by the shortest path.   And one of the biggest benefits in doing a job of any complexity, it that you have written stepwise reassembly procedure documented ... so you don't end up at step 17 in the reassembly ... just to realize you didn't do step
9 .. that now requires to take stuff apart for the second time !^%$@!

Good luck ... you'll feel great when the thing is purring again.

..ajm