If the timing belt rips on a 97 Camry 2.2L does is create damage to the engine????

[190hpkilla]

I searched but got no results. Are there any link on how to replace it? Thank you.

[yotatechie04]

If the timing belt does rip on any car, there is some possibility that there could be engine damage. The most noticable damage would be under the valve cover and on the camshafts, the gears may have stripped teeth. The timing belt is rather difficult to replace if you haven't really done much with your car. What you'll have to do to replace the timing belt in your Camry is this:

-Remove the right front wheel and fender apron seal.
-Remove the coolant overflow tank.
-Remove the spark plugs and drivebelts.
-Remove the alternator and bracket.
-Support the engine from underneath with a floor jack and a piece of wood. (Not under the oil pan)
-Remove the right engine mount and support rod.
-Remove the upper timing belt cover screws and pull up the wiring harness, and remove the upper timing belt cover and gaskets.
-Position the No. 1 Piston at TDC on the compression stroke. Make sure the small hole in the camshaft pulley is aligned with the TDC mark on the cam bearing cap.
-Loosen the upper idler pulley set bolt and unhook the spring. Remove the belt from the upper.
-Remove the lower timing belt cover and slip the belt guide off the crankshaft.
-Slip the timing belt off the sprocket and remove it. If the sprocket is worn or damaged you will need to replace it.


Also I've just remembered that if the timing belt has broken off while the engine was running, there is most likely going to be some damage. What usually happens when the belt breaks is the pistons come in contact with the valves, shoving the valves up higher, so what you will have to do is check the valve clearance, and if it's up higher than what it should be, it's most inevitable you will need a rebuild. I hope this helps, good luck.

[Joe W]

The 2.2 is not an interferance engine-that is no damage is done to the valves if the timing belt fails.

[Bossman]

Joe,
As a fellow former Pittsburger, can you please explain what an "interferance" engine is? I don't think I've ever heard the term before. Be careful in that cold stuff back there this winter. Yunz guyses know it's slippy out, n'nat. Thanks.

[89Turbo944]

Interferance: When the valves are open they are in the same space that the piston occupies at the top of its stroke. Meaning that if the pistom comes up with the valves open the valves will hit the piston face causing damage. That is what can happen with a snaped timing belt. But will not happen here cause it is not an interferance engine.

The most noticable damage would be under the valve cover and on the camshafts, the gears may have stripped teeth.

How would the camshaft be damaged? The valve cover is usualy a metal covering that prevents dirt and debre to come in contact with the cams. The damage would be almost soly limited to pistons and valves. I also dont see how it could strip teeth off of a cam gear. I mean a rubber belt striping steel teeth? Just dosent seem righ to me.

[Bossman]

Thanks for the info, Timothy. It all makes sense now.

[89Turbo944]

no problem Real name:_______

[yotatechie04]

I was going to say, regardless of whether it's an interferance engine or not, it's still possible to make contact when the belt snaps while the engine's running. I've read up on this in the Hayne's manuals for the Camrys and it says that it's possible with both the I4 and the V6.

[Joe W]

Hey Bossman,it is pretty slippy here in the 'Burgh and I gotta say I'm California dreamin about now,but in my experience with timing belts and non-interferance engines no other damage is done.Yotatechie04 usually has good info.Little help?

[Bossman]

Joe W.: It's always good to hear from a fellow burgher. I have many years of many great memories and driving in the winter there brings back a lot of them. We would put sandbags in the foot rest area of the back seat, let a little air out of the tires and keep the gas tank as full as possible
just in the hopes of getting some traction in the snow/ice. Ahhhh, the good old days! Take care and be careful.

[yotatechie04]

All right guys, way off topic here...if you want to have a discussion like that, take it to the "Coffee-Break" forum.

[190hpkilla]

thank you very much for the replies. There are 2 different types of engines intefering and non interfering.

Can someone verify for sure if the camry has the non intefering engine.

can i just pull the timing belt cover to inspect the belt for cracks?

I have a friends with an MR2 turbo, LEXUS GS400 and their angine's are non interfering as well. Thank you.