Starting in 1985, Toyota switched to a front drive platform and timing belt engine for the 4 cylinder Celica. Some Toyota timing belt engines, but not all, are what's called a non-interference design. On the non-interference engines, if the timing belt breaks, there's enough clearance built into the engine that the pistons won't hit the valves. If it's an interference engine, and the belt breaks, you could add hundreds or thousands of dollars in engine damage to the timing belt job.

There should be a timing belt replacement interval given in the maintenance schedule of your owners manual, if you got one with the car. There are manuals at some auto parts stores that will tell you which engines are or aren't interference designs. Or you can ask your local Toyota dealer. Unless the belt is ready to come apart, just looking at it may not tell you if it's overdue. I recently replaced a timing belt on a '96 Volvo that was nearly 20,000 miles overdue and the old one was barely showing traces of roughness. Only after the old belt was removed could I see the hairline cracks starting on the rubber teeth. On many timing belt engines, the timing belt has to come off anyway to replace the waterpump. On some, the timing belt even drives the waterpump. As waterpumps tend to have a relatively high failure rate, especially on higher mileage engines, it's a good idea to go ahead and replace it when you do the timing belt.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW