It can be complicated to replace the timing belt on most engines, especially those with dual camshafts or lots of drive accessories that need to be removed. In many cases, special tools are needed ...

When a timing belt or chain breaks, it severs the link between the crankshaft and the camshaft(s). This causes the valvetrain to stop moving while the crankshaft and pistons continue to work.

Unfortunately, that was the beginning of a miserable ordeal that finally ended with me discovering that the Saturn's timing chain had broken and the engine was mulched. That generation of Saturn was ...