All Toyota Camry V6 models used a timing chain and interference engine from 2007 to 2021. Between 1990 and 2006, non-interference engines and timing belts were standard on V6 Camrys.
All 4 cylinder Toyota Camry models used timing chain and interference engines from 2002 to 2021. Timing belts and non-interference engines were standard on the four-cylinder Camrys from 1990 to 2001.
In contrast to the 2006 Toyota Camry 3.0L V6 190 hp (1MZ-FE) option, the 2021 Toyota Camry 2.5L 4 Cyl. 206 hp (A25A-FKS) option includes a timing chain.
For detailed information on the year of your specific Toyota Camry model, scroll down or use the fast jump.
In This Article...
Timing Belt Basics
Maintaining the timing (synchronization) between the crankshaft and the camshaft is the major goal of the timing belt or timing chain (s).
While a timing chain resembles a bicycle chain, a timing belt is comprised of a rubber composite.
Timing belts deteriorate over time, thus they need to be replaced at the intervals recommended by the manufacturer. Serious engine damage may ensue from a failing timing belt.
Even though a timing chain will inevitably deteriorate with time, it should nonetheless undergo regular checks.
A timing belt for a 1999 Toyota Camry costs how much?
Belts don’t cost a much by themselves. Since many pieces must be removed in order to reach the belt, labor is where the true expense lies. Your best chance is to shop about and compare prices, but be prepared to pay anything between $409 and $919. (including parts and labor).
When was the timing belt in the Toyota Camry phased out?
- All Avalon models from 1995 to 2004 feature timing belts. Timing chains are used in the vehicles from 2005 through 2020, including the 4-cylinder Avalon Hybrid.
- Toyota Camry: The timing belt is used in all models from 1990 to 2001 as well as the V6 model from 2004 to 2006. The timing chain is utilized by the 20022020 4-cylinder and 20072020 V6 vehicles.
- Toyota’s well-known Corolla compact vehicle has a timing belt from 1990 to 1997. Timing chains, however, were introduced in models starting in 1998. The Corolla Hybrid and Corolla iM/Scion iM models are included in this.
- Cressida: The straight-six engine of the Toyota Cressida from 1990 to 1992 had timing belts.
- This subcompact’s timing chain-powered 4-cylinder engine was sold from 2000 to 2005.
- Timing chain for all models, 20032013, shown as a matrix.
- Timing belt for all Paseo models from 1992 to 1997.
- Prius: From 2001 to the most recent models, all Prius models share the same timing chain. The Prius C, Prius V, Prius Prime, and Prius Plug-in are all included in this.
- All Tercel models produced between 1990 and 1998 had engines with timing chains.
Should the Toyota Camry’s timing belt be changed?
Timing belts are important, but unless your Toyota owner’s handbook specifically advises it, they don’t need to be replaced on a regular basis. Between 60,000 and 100,000 miles, some automakers advise changing the timing belt, while others don’t.
How long does it take to change a Toyota’s timing belt?
It does need some engine knowledge to replace a timing belt and water pump, so if you don’t have much expertise working under the hood, we advise leaving it to the experts. However, if you prefer making your own repairs and restorations, you can do it yourself and avoid paying hefty repair expenses in the process.
Starting with the tools you’ll need, we’ll walk you through the replacement of a timing belt and water pump step by step.
What You’ll Need to Replace the Water Pump and Timing Belt
- Wrench socket set
- tools for driving screws, such as Philips and slot drive
- jar or bucket (for collecting coolant)
- bags made of plastic and a permanent marker (for labelling nuts, bolts and parts you remove from the engine)
- Tip-Ex, white chalk, and white paint (for marking the cogs for simpler reassembly)
- new antifreeze/coolant
Step 1: Preparation
Get your car and work area ready first. Depending on your degree of experience, changing a timing belt and water pump can take anywhere from one to three hours, so make sure you have the time and space necessary. Before you begin, carry out the following:
- To reach the undercarriage beneath the engine, jack up the front of the automobile.
- Since coolant will spill out when you remove the water pump, place a bucket underneath it. To find the pump, see your car’s manual.
- Prepare all of your tools, and have bags and a pen on available to name and store the engine parts you remove.
- Before starting, make sure the engine is entirely cool.
- To stop the engine from spinning while you’re removing the timing belt, put the engine in drive and use the handbrake.
Step 2: Removing the Belts
You must first remove the fan belt and power steering belt because they are located next to the cover that protects the timing belt and water pump. To remove the belts, take the following actions:
How much does repairing a timing chain cost?
Timing chain replacement might cost between $600 and $800 to do it yourself or $1,600 to $1,800 to have a technician do it. Due to how difficult it is to replace this element, the price is exorbitant. The parts for a DIY timing chain replacement will run you about $650.
What vehicles have engines that interfere?
You may find out if your car’s engine is an interference engine or a non-interference engine by looking at the list below. If the cam stops turning owing to a damaged timing belt, an interference engine is one that has insufficient clearance between the valves and pistons. Usually, this leads to catastrophic engine failure. A non-interference engine doesn’t work like that. Knowledge is power.
You may also use the video below to check to see if your automobile has a timing chain or belt.
- 1.8L Interference 1.9L
- Interference 2.8L V6 90 100 Quattro A4 A6
- 2.5L 325I Interference 525I
- Interference: 4.0L 740I
- all SLX Interference-exempt
- Non Interference SLX
- Interference at 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 liters
- Non-Interference 1.7L
- Interference of 1.8L
- Dohc interference 2.0L
- 2.0L SOHC Conflict
- DOHC Interference 2.2L
- 2.2L Non-Interference SOHC
- SOHC Interference 2.22L
- Diesel Interference, 2.3L
- DOHC Non-Interference 2.4L (Valves may hit if camshafts turn out of time)
- SOHC Interference 2.4L
- 2.5L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
- V6 2.5L Interfere
- Non-Interference 3.0L SOHC 12 Valve Engine
- Interference 3.0L DOHC
- Interference with 3.0L SOHC 24 Valve Engine
- Interference, 3.2L
- Interference, 3.5L
- Interference 4.0L
- 128 Series Interference 1.3L
- Stranda Interference 1.5L
- 1.6L 124 Series Conflict
- 1.8L 124 Series Conflict
- Brava Interference, 1.8L 131 Series
- Spider Interference 2.0L Brava
- Non-Interference 1.3L
- Dohc non-interference 1.6L
- 1.6L SOHC Conflict
- Non-Interference 1.8L
- Non-Interference 1.9L
- 2.0L DOHC Non-Interference (Contour, Escape, Focus, Mystique, ZX2 & 1999-2002 Cougar)
- Interference 2.0L DOHC (Probe)
- Diesel Interference 2.0
- Escort, Focus, and Tracer 2.0L SOHC Gasoline Non-Interference
- Capri, Pinto, and Ranger 2.0L SOHC Gasoline Non-Interference
- Interference, 2.2L
- Gasoline Non-Interference 2.3L SOHC
- Diesel Interference, 2.4L
- 2.5L 4 Cyl SOHC. Non-Interference
- V6 Non-Interference 2.5 L
- 3.0L SOHC Conflict
- SHO Non-Interference 3.0L & 3.2L
- Interference, 3.3L
- Interference: 1.0L
- Interference, 1.3L
- Non-Interference 1.4L
- Interference 1.5L
- Non-Interference 1.6L (Chevette & 1000)
- 1.6L Non-Interference (LeMans)
- Interference: 1.6L (Tracker 16 Valve)
- Interference 1.6L DOHC (Aveo)
- Non-Interference 1.6L DOHC (Nova)
- Non-Interference 1.6L SOHC (Nova)
- Diesel Interference, 1.8L
- Fuel Non-Interference 1.8L
- Non-Interference 2.0L
- Diesel Interference, 2.2L
- Non-Interference 2.3L
- Interference 3.0L
- Non-Interference 3.4L
- Non-Interference 3.5L
- (19891992 Prizm GSI) 1.6L DOHC Non-Interference
- (1989-97 Prizm, except 1989-92 GSI) 1.6L DOHC Interference
- Storm Interference 1.6L DOHC
- Non-Interference 1.6L SOHC (Prizm)
- Storm Non-Interference 1.6L SOHC
- Engine (Tracker) 1.6L SOHC 8 Valve Non-Interference
- Interference with 1.6L SOHC 16-Valve Engine (Tracker)
- Interference 1.8L DOHC (Prizm)
- Storm) Interference, 1.8L DOHC
- Except for the 3.0L and 3.2, which are non-interference, all Honda engines are interference.
- 3.3 and 4.0 liters interfere
- Dohc interference 1.6L
- 1.6L Non-Interference SOHC
- Gasoline Interference 1.8L DOHC
- Interference 2.0L
- Gasoline Interference n2.2L
- Interference, 2.3L
- Interference, 2.6L
- Diesel Interference 2.1L
- DOHC Interference 2.4L
- Diesel Interference, 2.8L
- Dohc interference 1.5L
- DOHC Interference 1.8L
- Non-Interference 2.0L SOHC
- DOHC Interference 2.5L
- DOHC Interference 2.7L
- DOHC Interference 3.5L
- Non-Interference 2.5L
- Non-Interference 3.0L V6
- V6 Non-Interference, 3.3 L
- 3.0L Inline 6 Non-Interference (19921997)
- 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i Interference (19982006)
- Interference, 4.3L
- Interference, 4.7L
- Non-Interference 1.5 L
- Non-Interference 1.6L
- 1.8L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference
- V6 Non-Interference, 1.8 L
- 2.0L DOHC Non- Interference (626, MX-6, and Protege)
- 2.0L DOHC Non-Interference (Tribute)
- 2.3L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference (B2300)
- V6 Non-Interference, 2.3 L
- 2.5L 4 Cyl. Non-Interference (B2500)
- SOHC Interference 3.5L
- Interference, 3.8L
- Interference with DOHC
- Non-Interference for SOHC
- DOHC Interference 1.3L
- SOHC Interference 1.3L
- Engine Non-Interference 1.6L 8 Valve
- 16-valve 1.6-liter engine interference
- 1.5L Non-Interference (3E-E & 5E-FE)
- 1.6L DOHC Non-Interference (4A-F & 4A-FE)
- 1.6L DOHC Non-Interference (4A-GE & 4A-GZE)
- Gasoline Non-Interference 2.2 L
- Non-Interference 2.8L
- 3.0L Inline 6 Non-Interference (Except 1998 2JZ-GE)
- 3.0L Inline 6 VVT-i Interference (1998 2JZ-GE)
- VVTi Interference, 3.3L 3MZ-FE V6,
Is the 2.2 engine in the 1997 Toyota Camry an interference engine?
The 1.6 liter and smaller Toyota “GAS engines” were referred to as “interference engines”. Unfortunately, “interference engines” refer to all diesel engines.
How can you tell whether an engine uses a timing chain or belt?
The first step is to examine your engine to determine whether your car has a timing belt or a timing chain. If you see a tinplate or plastic cover on the side of your engine, you have a timing belt. Your engine has a timing chain if it lacks one of those.
There are a few instances where this rule isn’t true, but thankfully they are uncommon. For instance, a dry belt is concealed under the engine of the Peugeot Pure Tech. Consult your car’s owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website if you have questions about your vehicle that you can’t figure out by looking at the engine. Alternately, schedule a visit with WhoCanFixMyCar at your neighborhood mechanic.