Chrysler Repair: Change timing belt on 3.2/3.5L 00 engine?, chrysler 300 m, running the risk

Question
Where is the viewing port for the timing belt located on the '00
Chrysler 300 M?  We're having trouble located that.  Would like to
see if there are signs of wear.  Mileage:  105,000.

Answer
Hi Phyllis,
Unfortunately I don't see a means of inspecting the timing belt save for a significant amount of disassembly, most of it would take you a good way toward replacing the belt! I know you are concerned because of the maintenance schedule that lists its replacement at 100,000 miles. My experience is limited with this issue, but my impression is that the recommended change distance is too conservative. I would be interested to know the experience of other owners who changed the belt at that point as to what the condition appeared to be. I suspect that if the engine has been driven conservatively and that the climate it is exposed to is temperate that it can go quite a bit further. The main risk is of course that mechanical damage can occur to the valve train when the belt breaks.
I own an older 4 cyl 2.5L engine which does not have that risk. So I am content even though I have gone 120,000 miles and it can be inspected easily and shows no inclination to break.
The other consideration is that when the water pump begins to fail on your V-6 it will be necessary to remove the timing belt to change it. So whenever that occurs is the appropriate time to also replace the timing belt and do both jobs at once. The only question is whether to run the risk that the timing belt will break before the water pump begins to leak. I lean toward running the risk on the general philosophy of 'if it ain't broke don't break it". Opinions may vary.
Another interesting wrinkle in the standard maintenance schedule is that the recommendation applies ONLY to "engines equipped under Federal Emission standards" which implies that this advice may be purely a governmental reqirement, not something that the manufacturer recommends on its own initiative. Were that the case I would even feel less inclined to do anything about the belt until the water pump needed replacement. While there are clearly some pollution control parts that wear out, and thus should be replaced, I fail to see what the timing belt has to do with that because if it breaks the engine will no longer run! Maybe they are worried that it will stretch and the resultant change in the valve timing will increase pollution. But that effect is not something I would be concerned about enough to go to the cost of replacement, which is not trivial. It is not a Federal requirment.
Roland