Just found out my 97 with the 2.3 has a timing belt and NOT a chain.....HATE em!

Worst design for a car EVER imop, just bought it with 114,000 miles, guess I'll have it changed soon, I just read online that the interval is 120K.

At least it's not a interference engine, or as I call it a "destroy the engine" design!

I had a belt go on me with only 40,000 miles years ago on a 84 Ford EXP, no, NOT a Explorer (look that up youngins) 😁
Change interval was supposed to be 60,000.

 

120k is probably pushing it a bit, if you are in the South, warmer climates
Belts and hoses tend to "dry out" faster in warmer drier climates than cooler wetter climates

You can take a look at the belt, it may have been changed already, they do show signs of drying out, i.e. cracks, just like the serpentine fan belts do

And like you said, its a non-interference engine so outside of the inconvenience of the engine just stopping when it breaks, there would be no engine damage from that

 

Gotcha Ron, 👍