The timing chain can fail because of poor maintenance , insufficient oil changes. Lots of long periods sitting with dry starts. Dry starts are murder on engine internals.
Take a picture of it and post it. Never have seen one unless it was a defective part. Most likely you got shafted by you mechanic. My 3800 has 294000.00 miles on it.
60000 miles
Timing belt do before 60000 miles very important.
It has a timing belt ! Recommended to be replaced every 60000 miles.
The 3.3L engine has a timing chain.
It has a timing chain that should last the life of the engine.
timing chain
Timing chain
it has a timing chain it has a timing chain
The '99 Chevy Prizm has a timing chain, not a timing belt, so it does not need to be replaced.
Generally a timing chain is good for the life of the engine, so myth.Generally a timing chain is good for the life of the engine, so myth.
The timing chain is inside the passenger side of the engine.The timing chain is inside the passenger side of the engine.
It is a timing chain engine.