98 Camry 4 Cylinder Questions

[cdlubbe]

Hello:I have a 1998 Camry LE with a 4 cylinder engine.It has 99,000 miles on it.I have posted here a few times with questions.
I am going to be replacing the timing belt,water pump,thermostat and coolant next week.
Do worn timing belts make any type of noises compared to a engine with a new belt on it?Are they noisey?
How about water pumps with nearly 100,000 miles on them? Do they get noisey also?
One other question.They say that the 4 cylinder engine has two overhead cams.What drives the two cames?
Does the timing belt turn both of them?
By looking at the engine,does not look there is enough room for two cam shaft pulleys?
I am very new to all of this,so please forgive all of my questions.
I am trying to learn as much about this car as I can.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks...Chuck

[Brian R.]

Originally Posted by cdlubbe

Do worn timing belts make any type of noises compared to a engine with a new belt on it?Are they noisey?

How about water pumps with nearly 100,000 miles on them? Do they get noisey also?

One other question.They say that the 4 cylinder engine has two overhead cams.What drives the two cames?

Does the timing belt turn both of them?

By looking at the engine,does not look there is enough room for two cam shaft pulleys?

No, timing belts are always quiet.

Water pumps can get noisy - bad sign

The timing belt drives the intake cam and the exhaust cam is driven by a gear off the intake cam. There is only one pulley and it is on the intake cam.

[cdlubbe]

Hello:last night I listened to the engine with a listening devise.
there seems to me excessive noise coming from the waterpump housing and behind the pastic cover to the timing belt.
This engine has seemed louder than what I think is normal since I bought it several weeks ago.
Thought it needed the valves adjusted,but listening atop of the valve cover,no exsessive noises.
The only thing that seems to be not normal is the noisey waterpump and noises inside the plastic timing cover.
Has anyone ever heard of this before?
Why do most people recomend replacing the waterpump when replacing the timing belt?Is it because these get noisey or they start leaking at the higher miles?
Are there any other items under the timing belt cover that could be making noises?Belt adjuster or idler wheel?
I ahve always thought these Toyota 4 cylinder engines were supposed to be one of the quitest engines out there?
Are they a normally noisey engines?
I had a 1993 Corolla,and I do not remember it being this noisey.
maybe I am being too picky,but I want to fix any abnormal noises soon.
I plan on replacing the belt and waterpump soon.
I am open to any suggestions with the noises.
Thanks...Chuck

[Brian R.]

Yes, there is an idler pulley that can make noise.

The waterpump is normally replaced with the belt because it is easily accessible. They will fail more often after a timing belt replacement than if you left everything alone because you are changing the side force on the water pump shaft when you change the belt and any change to an old mechanical device brings on bad happenings.

Replace the water pump with the belt and check the smoothness of the idler pulley.

[300+]

I agree completely with Brian.
After 311,000 miles on my 92 4 cyl,
I have never broken a belt.
I have broken the water pump losing the belt (200k) and I have had an idler seize breaking a belt (240k).
The pump can fail completely very shortly after making noise.
Usually when you are a 100+ miles from home.
Check that the bearings are not rough on both pulleys.
Any question, replace them.
You might want to use some antiseize on the bolts going into the aluminum.
Mine froze on the thermostat.
Be careful with the o-ring gasket on bypass that it doesn't tear going back in. No fun fixing that after you're all done.

[Brian R.]

Always use antiseize compound on bolts going into aluminum.