Timing Belts and Transmissions  courtesy of Bob, The Auto Answer
Man  I'm the one with the 1992 Ford Taurus (3.8 liter, 6 cyl)
with the burning rubber smell. Thanks for your suggestions. I've
heard that with some cars, if the timing belt breaks, you just
need to be towed and have it replaced. With others cars, it can
do engine damage. Do know which one my car is, or how I can find
out.  Also if I do have the belt replaced, is there anything
else I should have done while the engine is apart anyway. The
car has 62,000 miles. Jennifer C.  Dear Jennifer, To answer your
question about what happens when the timing belt goes, depends
on the engine. There are basically two types, interference and
non-interference. An interference engine is an engine whose
piston rises far enough to be able to touch a valve if it is
open. A non is just the opposite. If a belt breaks on a non
interference engine, then you are correct, not too much engine
damage will occur. But it the belt breaks on an interference
engine, then what hap