# Toyota Corolla - timing chain or timing belt?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** corolla, toyota\
**Created:** [August 25, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274 "2012-08-25T00:17:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Danno51](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@Danno51](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Danno51)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 12:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274/1 "2012-08-25T00:17:25Z")

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I have a 1999 Toyota Corolla CE. My mechanic says it has a timing chain, per his computer. The Toyota website says it has a timing chain, but the local Toyota dealership looked up the VIN and says it has a timing belt. In researching this, I see there is lots of confusion on this issue. Who do I believe???

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 12:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274/2 "2012-08-25T00:26:56Z")

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You can Google the largest belt maker, [Gates.com](http://Gates.com) which makes belts for nearly all cars and see if they have one for yours. If so, it has indeed a timing belt. My 2007 has a chain. I’m not sure when Toyota changed over.

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**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:** [August 25, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274/3 "2012-08-25T00:28:03Z")

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You have a chain.  
The Camry, Tercel, Rav4, Celica, 4-Runner, Solara, and Land Cruiser have belts.  
Go figure.

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [August 25, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/toyota-corolla-timing-chain-or-timing-belt/74274/4 "2012-08-25T00:29:28Z")

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It looks like all 1999 Corollas have the same engine, 1ZZ-FE. This engine uses a chain.