What I was told is that you look at the belt; if you see more than 7 "cracks" per inch, it is time to replace the timing belt.
A timing belt can look perfectly fine and be ready to break. This is why they are replaced at a scheduled mileage or every 10 years no matter what they look like. So the bottom line is you cannot know when it needs replacing by just looking at it. Your owners manual will list when it needs replacing.
If you think it is going bad STOP DRIVING and get it changed immediately. If the timing belt/chain goes while you are motoring it will ruin the engine.
AnswerIf this engine has a timing belt, there is no way to know if a timing belt is going bad unless you look at it and it is frayed or cracked. That is why they are replaced at a predetermined mileage interval. The belt can look good and be ready to fail. Replace the belt according to the mileage interval listed in your owner's manual.AnswerIt is highly unlikely the Taurus/Sable has a timing BELT - unless it is a Taurus SHO model.See "Related Questions" below for more
what engine do you have ? the 4.0L and the 2.5 do not use a timing belt. They use a timing chain. Under normal circumstances the chain should last the life of the engine.
It does not have a timing belt it has a chain
You Don't - It just breaks and blows the engine
I know of no vehicle where the engine has to be removed to change a timing belt.
The 1997 Buick Park Avenue does not have a timing belt. It has a timing chain.
If the timing belt is broken the vehicle will not start.
Give more info., did previous timing belt fail?
Common signs are: Hesitation, poor running, valve clatter, and loss of power. A broken timing belt or timing chain can cause an engine to stop running or cause the valves to crash to the pistons.
If you can drive the car, the timing belt isn't broken. An engine will not start or run with a broken cam belt.
Remove the timing belt cover and inspect the belt or change it every 90K miles.