Hi everybody. I just purchased 2001 Spyder GS with 27K miles. I ran the carfax, everything is fine and the mileage is original. The car is in superb shape, like new. I have a lot of questions but what exactly should I look for? What would be your recomendation. Should I replace the timing belt if it was not replaced yet?

 

actually you should replace the timing belt and the balance shaft belt. i just had some bad luck with mine cause the original owner didnt do that. so now i have to replace valves. As far as im concerned if you want your car to look good on the outside. get away from stock rims. the aluminum looking rims doesn't do the car justice. you can see what i mean if you take a look at my pics compared with others on here. Besides that you have a great car in your hands, take care of it and it will take care of you.

 

Timing belt does not need to be changed until 60K miles. It is important to do it but at 30k is very premature. Other than that you should be looking for leaky top, Wet floorboard (esspecailly with AC on) The rotors warp easily on these cars. The red rear side marker lights blow out ALOT and the center speaker on top of the clock on the dash will blow out in no time flat, unless someone already took the dash apart to unplug it otherwise you will know because it will sound awful.

 

I'd have to respectfully disagree here (because of how old the belts are) and say that timing belts are rubber and are under stress. They can dry rot. At nine years old, I'd recommend changing both timing belts. Especially if you're in a hot climate.

I'd also look for coolant leaks from under the hose clamps on the engine side of the radiator hoses.

 

really? a 4g64 motor has multiple timing belts....i wonder how that works. First off i would take it to a trustworthy mechanic (if you know one) and have him look over the car. You want a person with a trained eye to look over the car for possible issues (such as the timing belt) because for stuff like that you will be able to tell if they need replacing.

 

Wow... I consider the balance shaft belt a timing belt.

 

the balance shaft belt is a balance shaft belt. and i agree 100% go get a good mechanic that knows his stuff to have him look over the car. if it hasn't been beat on, i would say that the timing belt should be good. i would look into the front valve cover gasket, i have been noticing alot of them going out but that might not be for a few more thousand miles, but keep an eye out for that. and for the rims thing...ya they look good and all but why put money into looks when you can put it into your motor for speed. one day if you clutch goes out, get an Exedy stage 2 clutch and a Fidanza aluminum fly wheel. best setup i have had on a car. otherwise intake, exhaust, full coil over kit...ect. make it fast before looks, because people will think its stock, then you can work them.

 

Snowmobiler we are talking about a GS here so there is only one valve cover gasket. I know you said front but that only applies to the GT and GTS versions since they have the v6. Other than that I would not bother trying to mod a GS to be fast unless you just straight to peicing a turbo setup together. They dyno like 115 with the mods you listed and only dyno like 105 stock. they are very slow cars and do not take mods well at all.

 

Emonz57.... Does the V6 3.0L have a balance shaft belt? if so where the hell is it? I know it has a timing belt, serp belt and ac belt... and a harmonic balancer. maybe i am reading a post on the 4 cyl. which i have had all these issues with mine.