i have a 92 camry 4cyl that the timing belt was going to be replace on. i guess the timing belt was not put on correctly and something happen to the egine. they said something about the valves being broken or something like that. i would just like to know what happens inside the engine when this problem happens. Is it too hard to fix, or maybe just get a used engine. $$$?? thank you!

get an honest shop! you should have no damage. the motor in your 92 is non-interferance! meaning no damage when the timing belt goes! mike

I guess/sounds like the timing belt slipped or your well beyond the belts scheduled longevity. :banghead: Well regardless of the belt assuming the engines a non-interference version then all you need is a good shop that can do the belt replacement right. Look carefully and in your incdense I'd take it to a Toyota delaership and have it done right.

rimfire,22

Both the previous posters are correct. Your 92 4 cylinder 5SFE engine is a non-interference engine. That means, even if the belt breaks completely, the valves from the top portion (cylinder head) of the engine will not come in contact with the tops of the pistons in the bottom portion (block) of the engine. That means that no damage will occur. There are some engines that are interference fit engines (many Hondas for instance) where if your timing belt breaks there can be engine damage. Your Camry is not one of them. All you need to do is get the belt installed correctly and your car will be fine.

I would take the car back to however did the timing belt, if you still have a warranty on the job and have them redo it to correct the problem. If you are out of warranty or do not feel comfortable taking the car back to this place, use the link below to try to find a dealer in your area that has a timing belt special listed here. As a side note, most Toyota dealers in a given area will honor other dealers coupons in that same area. Most want the business.

http://www.toyotacoupons.com/UI/Dealer/DealerSearch.aspx

Mike

it sounds like you got the timing belt changed before it broke (so you would not have bent valves even if the engine was an interference engine), but now that you got it changed you're having problems.
what symptoms is your car having? is it hard to start? is there a large loss in power? Either of those symptoms hints that the belt was put on incorrectly.