RAY MAGLIOZZI

Dear Car Talk: I have a 2019 Ford Escape. The engine has a timing chain. I grew up as a backyard mechanic with my dad teaching me, so I understand the basics of how an engine works.

My car has just reached 100,000 miles, so I had all the fluids flushed and new plugs installed. The manual also calls for inspecting the timing chain. I looked online for estimates to get the chain inspected, and they ranged from $500 to $1,000. Then I looked up the cost of replacing the timing chain, and the estimates ranged from $500-$1,500.

I haven’t called my Ford dealer to get the actual prices, but based on the estimates, why would I bother to have the chain inspected when it’s about the same price to just replace it? — Jerry

Yeah, you’d be nuts to pay $1,000 to have it inspected when you could replace it for a little more than that. And you’d be nuts to replace it now for no reason. If you’ve taken good care of your engine — changed the oil on time, driven it kindly — chances are that the timing chain will last a lot longer than 100,000 miles. We’ve seen plenty of well-maintained cars with 200,000 miles on them, with their original timing chains.

Visually inspecting the chain is costly, because you have to remove the water pump, the crankshaft pulley and the timing chain cover to get at it. But there is a cheaper, and pretty darned good way to inspect the timing chain: listen to it. If there’s something wrong with the chain, the tensioner, or one of the followers, you can hear the chain slapping or jangling around inside its aluminum cover.

It may not be something the average car owner would notice or even hear over road and engine noise. But a good mechanic can get up close and listen to the chain and can tell the difference between normal engine noise and a chain that’s starting to exhibit a problem. And unlike a timing belt, which gives you no warning before it breaks, a timing chain will start to make noise hundreds of miles before it fails.

So that’s what I’d recommend, Jerry. Find an experienced mechanic — who’s got a few gray hairs — and ask him to listen to your timing chain.

If he starts talking back and having a conversation with it, look for someone a tiny bit younger. But if he doesn’t hear anything concerning, you can consider that your inspection.

Got a question about cars? Write to Ray in care of King Features, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803, or email by visiting the Car Talk website at www.cartalk.com.