The engine will turn on the starter, or with a wrench on the end of the crankshaft. However it will not run. If the Timing belt breaks, when the engine is running, this can cause extensive damage to the engine.
A timing chain, that needs to be replaced, can cause your engine to run rough and lose power. A broken timing chain can cause significant engine damage.
Your car has the 1NZ-FE engine featuring VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence). This is a non-interference engine, with a timing chain. While a broken chain could cause damage to your engine, it is less likely to cause damage on a non-interference engine, and if the chain is damaged (but not completely snapped) you will often know it because it will make a lot of noise (stop driving it at that point and get the chain replaced). The chain is generally considered good for 250,000 miles unless it begins making noise.
most snapped timing belts will in most cases cause engine damage,the only exception would be a freewheeling engine were valve to piston contact would be minimal an interference type engine would cause damage.
On an interference engine the pistons can hit the valves. That will cause severe internal engine damage.
A belt that has jumped a tooth will cause the engine to be out of time. This will adversely effect performance and mileage. A broken belt will cause engine damage as this is an interference engine. Replace the belt every 80,000 miles at a minimum.
The 2003 escape has a timing belt - but it is not the sort of belt that can cause havoc and internal damage to the engine if it breaks. If it breaks, the engine simply won't run until you replace the broken belt - but the engine won't slam into itself - as it were.
If the timing chain breaks while the engine is running, this can cause the pistons to collide with the valves with disastrous consequences. This will often damage the engine beyond repair. Since this is the case, many newer car engines are designed to mitigate this. This includes most cars made since the early 1990's.
This is an interference engine, There is a very good chance that some valves are bent. Theres also the posibillity of piston damage.
wrong timing can cause any engine to over heat. in fact if the timing is off it can cause hundreds of dollars of damage.
the moment the belt get broken, one of the cylenders will hit one of the valves and break the engine completely and cause a very very big damage to the engine
On an interference engine the pistons will hit the valves and cause severe internal engine damage.