Is it true that when timing belt breaks on the Toyota Solara, it does not do any harm??? This was what I had heard from a toyota mechanic told my friend. Please clear this up for me. I thought that when timing belt breaks, it bends and damageds the valves. That is why it is crucial to replace them before they break.
Thanks

 

I've never heard that before. I don't even know how that would be possible. I have always heard that if you break the timing belt you have to replace the valves because they should have bent. Best thing to do is call Toyota USA headquarters and ask them.

-DK

 

Depends on engine design and the location of things when it breaks. Most modern engines are referred to as "interference" engines, meaning that the valves and pistons do move through paths that would intersect in space were it not for the timing of the system. When the system's timing is interrupted (i.e. timing belt breaks, pistons keep moving but valves are stuck in their current positions) the pistons can potentially smack a stuck-open valve, which is what causes the (often catastrophic) damage.

Not all engines are interference designs; it's possible the Solara is a non-interference design and that a broken timing belt would cause nothing more than a non-running engine. If so, your friend is quite lucky!

 

Whether or not there is interference between the pistons and valves depends on the engine design.

I can tell you that I broke a timing belt on my Honda and everything was OK after I replaced the belt. It was 1977 Civic 1200cc SOHC.