Hello guys,

My 99 camry has 165000 miles on it and want to change the timing belt. I heard, even if the belt breaks it doesn't harm the engine on that type of engines. Is that true?

Also when I start my car in the morning i hear a rattling sound and with the engine heats up it fades away. I bought it from a dealer at 155000 miles on it, so I don't know the history

 

I wouldn't gamble on this either way. I'm pretty sure that this is an interference engine but I could be wrong, pretty sure though. I would consider doing a full work up/tune on this engine because you don't know much about it. That rattling sound could be your lifters. Some high mileage engines engines develop play in the valve train and you can hear lifter tick. As the engine warms up and oil circulates enough, the sound goes away. Some valves can be adjusted to reduce the clatter, not sure of your's though. Generally, valve clatter is not harmful unless excessively loud.
Do the timing belt. Even if the engine is not interference, you don't want to be left stranded on the side of the road.