View Timing Belt?

[MattInLA]

What is the simplest way to VIEW my timing belt for wear, 97 Cam 4Cyl what is the MINIMUM I need to take off, what to do thanks.

[toyomoho]

You can take off the upper cover. This may require taking off the engine mount that bolts to the engine.

[dz63]

^+1...What Toyomho said.

Not always easy to determine if timing belt needs to be changed by visual examination. If there are cracks in the belt or any teeth are damaged, then it should be replaced, but often the timing belt still looks good, even if the belt has reached the recommended repalcement interval.

I read somewhere that if then rubber on the back of the timing belt starts to get shiny, it is an indication that the timing belt is getting near the end of its life. I can't personally vouch for this. Perhaps some others here will know.

[ghettosled]

i agree with dz63 - you really cant visually inspect a timing belt. its strength isnt in the rubber you can see, its in the woven threads inside the belt. if the threads fail, so does the belt. i just had a dryer belt fail on me even though the rubber was visually in good shape.