1997 Toyota Camry: How to Change the Timing Belt

The timing belt keeps your car running smoohly.

If your '97 Camry is backfiring, sluggish or idles poorly then your timing belt may be bad. A timing belt ensures that the camshaft and crankshaft valves work together with the pistons, and having a broken or damaged timing belt can be hazardous to your car and very costly. Making sure that you have a properly working timing belt before things go very wrong can save you a lot of time and money in the end.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Timing belt
• Various wrenches
• Socket set
• Spark plug socket
• Pry bar
• Ratchet
• Extension

1. Remove the timing belt

   • 1

     Disconnect the negative battery cable. Lift your car up with a jack and support it with jack stands. Remove the lower engine cover as well as the right inner fender cover. When you're done with that lower the car back to the ground.

   • 2

     From the top of the car, remove the bolts holding the alternator in place then pull out the alternator by hand. Take out the coolant reservoir.

   • 3

     Remove the serpentine belt by first removing the pivot bolt on the left corner of the engine block. Then loosen the tensioner adjustment bolt which is located under the tensioner pulley. Pull off the tensioner belt.

   • 4

     Raise the car back up and and take off the right engine mount. Keep the car raised.

   • 5

     Get your spark plug socket and remove the spark plugs.

   • 6

     Take off the timing belt cover. Line up the crankshaft pulley groove with the oil pump by rotating the engine to the right. Make sure the camshaft pulleys line up with the rear belt covers. You may have to rotate the engine.

   • 7

     Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt. Remove the tensioner and dust boot. Remove the bolts holding the lower timing belt cover on. Take the cover off.

   Installing the timing belt

   • 1

     Clean the pulleys of any dirt, oil or water.

   • 2

     Align the new belt's front mark with the crankshaft pulley's mark. Also align the timing belts installation mark with the camshaft pulley.

   • 3

     Install the pulleys. The easiest way to install them is, crankshaft, water pump, left camshaft, No. 2 idler, right camshaft and the No.1 idler.

   • 4

     Compress the tensioner until the push rod and housing holes align. Reconnect the dust boot and tighten the tension bolts up to 20 foot pounds.

   • 5

     Rotate the crankshaft and line up its groove with the oil pump. The timing marks on the camshaft and the marks on the rear timing cover should also match.

   • 6

     Put the timing belt guide in and tighten the bolts to 21 foot pounds. Replace and tighten the upper timing belt cover bolts to 74 inch pounds. Replace the lower timing belt cover bolts to 74 inch pounds.

   • 7

     Reinstall the spark plugs. Put back on the right engine mount, and reinstall the serpentine belt. To reinstall the serpentine belt follow the instructions in reverse on removing the belt. Put the coolant reservoir back in. Reinstall the alternator.

   • 8

     Put the inner fender back on along with the engine cover. Lower the car and reattach the negative battery cable. Start the car to make sure that the timing belt is working properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that when you take bolts and parts out of the car you keep them together and someplace where they won't get lost.