timing belt question

[epojr]

I bought a 03 Corolla LE with only 28K miles on the odometer a few weeks ago, and I got the owner's manual and a Toyota recommended maintenance schedule with it. But I can't find anything in either booklet on replacing the timing belt. Question, does the 1.8L engine use a timing belt or a chain? If it has a belt what is the recommended mileage for replacement? I am sure it's much more than the 28K miles that are on the car now, but I expect to put a lot of miles on it in the next 2 or 3 years and don't want to risk the belt breaking. The last car I owned that had a timing belt had to have it replaced every 60K miles, but I think most belts now are made to run farther than that. Which reminds me of another question, is the Corolla 1.8L an interference engine? And is there anything else I need to know about maintaining this Corolla properly that the owners manual doesn't tell me about?

[mikered30]

The 1.8 engine is non interference and uses a timing chain.

[epojr]

Thanks a lot, that's what I was hoping to hear. I have had an Altima for the last 8 years with a timing chain and it was nice not to have to replace it or to worry about it breaking it and wrecking the engine.

Although, I once had a Mercury Grand Marquis 6.6L engine break a chain at 70 mph on I-75, so chains aren't foolproof either. But a good thing about a timing chain over a belt is that a chain will usually give you a warning for a while before it breaks by making a jangling noise at idle, I just didn't know where that jangling noise was coming from and didnt do anything about it until it was to late.

[JasonA]

Timing chains here. This ain't no Honda forum!