Toyota: Does my vehicle have a timing belt or timing chain?

Yours has a chain, so your question regarding a belt isn't relevant to your car. The timing chains typically are never replaced and last the life of the car (which can be multiple hundreds of thousands of miles) with rare exceptions. Even in those exception cases, it's usually an issue of (for lack of a better term) "stretch" rather than out-and-out breakage. And this is no surprise if you've ever held a timing chain in your hands. Much like a bicycle chain "on steroids" and how often does a bike chain ever break under typical use? (And those are exposed and subject to kinds of interference from environmental factors a timing chain will never see).

 

Toyota: Does my vehicle have a timing belt or timing chain?

Yours has a chain, so your question regarding a belt isn't relevant to your car. The timing chains typically are never replaced and last the life of the car (which can be multiple hundreds of thousands of miles) with rare exceptions. Even in those exception cases, it's usually an issue of (for lack of a better term) "strech" rather than out-and-out breakage. And this is no surprise if you've ever held a timing chain in your hands. Much like a bicycle chain "on steroids" and how often does a bike chain ever break under typical use? (And those are exposed and subject to kinds of interference from environmental factors a timing chain will never see).

Awesome!! Thank you so much for your reply; I appreciate it immensely. Woohoo!!!!!

 

@guyslp did a great job of answering your question.

I would just like to add the following, I am going to assume this is your first Camry.

The timing chain on the 2AR-FE engine is contained inside, you would have to remove the valve cover gasket to be able to see it.

The belts on the outside of the engine, are the two SERPENTINE BELTS, that run the Alternator, A/C Compressor, Power Steering Pump and Water Pump. If any of those two were to break, IT WILL NOT DAMAGE THE ENGINE, right away. The component that is driven by the broken belt will stop working, so you should stop running the vehicle as soon as possible.

The two serpentine belts should be replaced every 80,000 to 100,000 miles.

 

Thanks so much, ToyotaFan95341! Great info. Yes; this is my first Camry. The body is super straight save for a few minor scrapes, and has always been garaged. I love my Camry, and I keep it clean and pristine.

 

OP is asking if this is an interference or non interference engine. Supposedly a shortcut way to tell for Toyota is that if you have a timing chain it's an interference engine. If you have a timing belt it's non-interference. I got a new timing chain as part of a kit when I was replacing the chain tensioner and guides. When I got to it, my original chain with over 300,000 miles was in such good condition and within specs for stretch that I kept it in there.
For future people looking up this topic...an interference engine means that if your timing chain or belt were to break while the engine is running, the camshafts will keep pushing the valves down, causing them to hit the top surface of the pistons. This is because the pistons and valves won't be moving up and down together in sync(a.k.a in time) anymore.

 

Supposedly a shortcut way to tell for Toyota is that if you have a timing chain it's an interference engine. If you have a timing belt it's non-interference.

This is incorrect, and should never be used as the metric to decide "interference vs. non-interference" design because it's not 100% definitive.

Every resource I know of says the 3MZ-FE VVTi V6 is an interference engine, and it definitely uses a timing belt.

Some references that confirm that the 3MZ-FE V6 is an interference engine:

Interference Engines - The Complete List

Toyota Non Interference Engine List: Which Models are Included? • Road Sumo and its "flip side:"

Interference Engine List [and Non-Interference Engine List]

Interference engines refers to a 4-stroke internal combustion piston engine where the valves are in a completely open position.

roadsumo.com

And the lists go on and on.

I've actually just dropped Toyota a line to see if they have something along the lines of this page that specifies whether a given model/year has a chain versus a belt but for whether a given engine is interference versus non-interference. If they give me a definitive reference, I'll post it.

 

Great info, Tekka1; thank you so much!

 

@Tekka1

Unlike you, I own what I say, both the clear text and the subtext. I stand behind exactly what I've offered here and will not engage with you again.

 

Easy way to tell is go to Rock Auto, put in your car, click timing components and see what's there. Most mfg have ditched belts.

 

Thank you Bill; I will try that on the Rock Auto website.

Btw, perhaps I should have clarified up front that my car is a 4cyl. Thanks.

 

There is no question. I posted the page, from Toyota, in the first response to this topic. From that page:

All Camry 4-cylinder engines between 2002 and 2020 use a timing chain. And timing chains virtually never need to be replaced.

 

A great resource for learning about your Toyota is the Car Care Nut YouTube channel. He's a Toyota Master Tech and has scores of videos teaching you all you ever want to know about Toyotas and Lexus.