# Timing belt on 2005 Camry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** toyota, camry\ **Created:** [May 7, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934 "2014-05-07T20:51:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KevintheScriber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@KevintheScriber](https://community.cartalk.com/u/KevintheScriber)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/1 "2014-05-07T20:51:32Z")
An independent dealer where I purchased my 2005 Camry XLE 4-cylinder said I need to replace my timing belt every 60,000 miles. It has 180,000 miles on it. He quoted a price of $500. Trying to find a cheaper alternative, I went to a local mechanic, who told me it has a timing chain, not a belt, that I don’t need to replace. The Toyota website was no help. I checked the maintenance guide that came with the car, and it says to replace the timing belt on a Camry “with 1MZ-FE or 3MZ-FE” (I have no idea what that means) at 90,000 miles. I could not find anything on point on the Car Talk website. Does anybody know or can at least tell me how to find out? Even if it has a chain, should it be replaced at 180,000 miles? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 9:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/2 "2014-05-07T21:13:23Z")
The I-4 engine in a 2005 Camry utilizes a timing chain, rather than a belt. Timing chains usually last for the life of the engine, and are not replaced proactively. However, if you begin to hear what sounds like a chain rattling inside a metallic case, that would be a clear sign that your timing chain needs to be replaced. If you begin to hear that noise, chain replacement should be done w/in the very near future. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/3 "2014-05-07T21:39:26Z")
> An independent dealer where I purchased my 2005 Camry XLE 4-cylinder said I need to replace my timing belt every 60,000 miles. It has 180,000 miles on it. He quoted a price of $500. I wouldn’t bring any car there for repairs. It seems this car has a timing chain. Which you only replace when you start to hear noises (as @VDCdriver pointed out). 180k miles is usually way too early for a timing chain replacement. And it’ll cost you a minimum of $1500 (closer to $2000) to replace a chain. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 10:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/4 "2014-05-07T22:54:48Z")
If you had a timing belt, there would be a replacement interval listed in the owner’s manual. ---
**Author:** ![kenberthiaume](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kenberthiaume](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kenberthiaume)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/5 "2014-05-07T23:01:30Z")
“with 1MZ-FE or 3MZ-FE” Those are engine designations. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/6 "2014-05-07T23:13:33Z")
1MZ-FE and 3MZ-FE are V-6 engines, 3.0L and 3.3L respectively, which do have a timing belt. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/7 "2014-05-08T01:51:29Z")
You absolutely need to change your maintenance shop. Your engine (I have the same engine) has a chain. Your dealer has an employee that’s giving you bad information. It may be that you were only talking to a “service consultant”, or worse yet a salesman (did he tell you he could give you a good tradein value after he told you you needed a timing belt?). "Service consultants often don’t know what they’re talking about. Many salesmen will tell you anything to get you to trade your car in. A 2005 Camry does not need a dealer mechanic. Find a reputable independently owned and run shop. You’ll save tons of cash and won’t have this dealer giving you bogus information anymore. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/8 "2014-05-08T03:37:06Z")
Re: 1MZ-FE and 3MZ-FE Those are Toyota’s engine numbers. You can see for yourself what engine number your own car uses. Pop the hood. On the underside of the hood there will be a decal there showing tune-up and emissions info. There should be a designation for the engine number on that decal. On my Corolla it says in big letters 4A-FE. Once you post your engine number, the experts here can say with certainty whether you have a timing belt or not. It’s important to get to the bottom of this, as if you do have a timing belt you could be risking very expensive damage to the engine by continuing to drive it. Note: Not 100% certain, but I believe a 2005 Toyota Camry w/a 4 cylinder engine has an engine number of 2AZ-FE and uses a timing chain, not a timing belt. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-belt-on-2005-camry/84934/9 "2014-05-08T03:46:26Z")
@KevintheScriber‌ I’ll spell it out in no uncertain terms I am 100% positive the 2AZ-FE uses a chain I am 100% positive the 1MZ-FE uses a timing belt So does the 3MZ-FE, which is a larger displacement version of the 1MZ-FE Don’t go back to the shop that wanted to sell you a timing belt job. Perhaps they were just ignorant and didn’t know you don’t have a timing belt Or perhaps it would have been the most profitable timing belt job in history . . .