How to Replace Timing Belt on a Ford Escort ZX2

More info: mylittlehomestead.com/moo-how-...
/ mroffandon
How to replace timing belt on a 2002 Ford Escort ZX2
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[@Cricket-el5ls]

You were really Blessed that there wasn't more damage done! My son's father had motor replaced in my son's 1997 Camry. It had 104,000 miles on it. He had a person do the work and he did not know what he was doing. Put that used 2.2 L in it and did not replace the timing belts and my son drove the car about 3 weeks and timing belt broke and messed the motor up. I bought a rebuilt motor and had it put in for the same price he had the used one put in. When I was younger working on motors we knew it was standard to replace timing belts on a used motor because you never know if they were replaced before and with that many miles on it , just a disaster waiting to happen. Costly lesson! I am too broken down myself now to do big jobs on autos any more, but I really enjoyed it when I could. Watching you makes me miss it. You seem to really be good at it. I know it is a headache at times. I enjoy watching you , esp on these 4cyl. I was always used to working on V8's. YOU ARE TEACHING ME ALOT ! THANK YOU! i AWAIT YOU NEXT VIDEO!

[@riza4086]

But a 2.2L camry has a Non-interference engine so I don't know how you messed it up. Hopefully a mechanic did not tell you that.

[@A.C.71]

I found the following concerning the "missing" 3rd idler pulley I thought may be helpful to some of you. "in the middle of the 1999 model year, Ford switched the idler pulley setup for the Escort ZX2 model from a 3 pulley setup (2 smaller idler pulleys and a tensioner) to a 2 pulley setup (1 larger idler pulley and a tensioner). Mine should be the later setup, but in changing my timing belt, I found that a variation of the pre-99.5 setup was installed, where the upper pulley was larger than the smaller one. I bought a Gates timing belt kit, which seems to have all the same pulleys." It would appear if you're not careful you could end up adding an extra pulley creating unnecessary tension and possible problems.

[@traviscurlutu7723]

ZX2 2.0 DOHC not an interference engine. Had one for many years. 270,000 miles properly maintained was a good car till the rust belt took it's toll on the body.

[@123yoagan]

Zetec is a non interference engine, meaning the piston heads have holes so they don't ever make contact with the valves

[@IMAWARRIOR89]

we have non interference engines so no damage if the belt breaks

[@timnelson9928]

IMAWARRIOR89

[@reaperasylum2163]

And you're absolutely correct, no such thing as a bent valve or interference engine in the zx2.

[@tbone2859]

Nice video. I would recommend replacing the water pump with the timing belt. Not that much more work to replace it

[@avion195]

Nice video. Short and sweet. Similar to my 2003 Focus with DOHC 2.0. I didn't change the water pump until about 40,000 miles later and was able to do that without pulling the timing belt, so the ZX2 must have a little bit different installation. MrOffandOn did good. Looks like you had it done in much less than the 8 hours it took me to change the timing belt. I was really taking my time though. hahaha Nice post. Thanks!

[@dreday4612]

good job bro you help me out a lot. my car didn't come with that third pulley either but the kit did and it came with the water pump, timing tool and valve cover gasket for 90 bucks online. my timing belt didn't break but one of the plastic pulley shattered. wasn't too bad taking it apart now just waiting on parts to come in tomorrow. thanks

[@robertlevkovsky1106]

Hey Dre, could you do me a solid and shoot me that link for $90... Much needed atm thanks

[@blakewebber]

Do you have the link to that kit? Thanks

[@mobilemowers]

In 2000 and earlier the crank gear can come apart. Need to go after the lower part and not do this cutting the belt guard apart. My 02 had the 2000 year gear assembly and it was coming part. Also this and the Focus are not interference engines as you can spin the engine over with a broken belt and nothing happens to the end just cranks over. Otherwise you all would have junk engines since your belt broke.

[@inibrasiumthefirst2680]

Good video bro. I hope you kept up with the videos

[@eldonfilms9285]

Dude this is hilarious haha great work.

[@Jaides1894]

Good video. Could you share the vct connector pinout, please? I'm trying to install a new connector in my 1998 Ford Contour because it's missing. I have 2 wires, one Black/Red and the other one is Green/Orange.

[@09bigbad]

Where is the water pump located exactly? i gotta replace that also

[@MPDano]

I'm doing this zx2 engine swap in my buggy. Since I inherited the engine and didn't pull it out, on that right upper motor mount, are there special bolts or a spacer as the mount holes a larger than the bolt diameter. Much thanks.

[@MrOffAndOnOfficial]

+MPDano On the driver side it dose have spacer between the mount and the transaxle. Passenger side the engine mount attaches to the alternator mount. Hope this helps :)

[@t4thfavor1212]

I just did this job today, you only need to take the water pump pulley out, not the whole water pump. and that's it. Then that second cover comes out with easy. took about another 15 mins extra to get off the water pump pulley. I replaced the water pump at the same time though. Thats also called the crankshaft pulley, not a harmonic balancer.

[@MikeJones-qe1xs]

t4thfavor1212

[@Cherrrystax]

t4thfavor1212 after extensive research I can assure you the crank pulley and harmonic balancer are one in the same.

[@Dwrecksk8Yo]

They are not the same the crank pulley is what the timing belt rides on and the harmonic balanced is what the serpentine belt rides on and it’s supposed to dampen vibration before it reaches the crankshaft so that the belt rides true and you don’t shake the hell out of everything and make the belt fly off

[@greentea2993]

thx

[@darrelltolentino6125]

@@Dwrecksk8Yo internally balanced engine is internally balanced. That is crank pulley. The part the belt rides on is crank gear

[@Brickstin]

Could you pleaqes help me find this tool for the cam? I don't have a welder nor do I know anyone that can lathe me the tool nor do I know any of the tools dimensions. Thanks.

[@robwinder7025]

I've been having the Same answers all Mechanics Tell me my ZX2 needs a Rebuild on my Non-Interference Engine they just want me to Rebuild the Whole Engine !! More Money !! I have not Fixed the Problem yet I figured I could do it Myself but I know nothing about Replacing Valves ? or even Checking them !! All I did was Drive for about 25 Miles go in Watch the band no Alcohol ! 3 Hours later I get in my Car Start it then a Few Seconds later It made a Clanking noise then when I tried again just a Slapping sound so I was not Driving it when that Happened. I Figured it was the Timing belt Broke !! It had 198K miles so I figured it was about time ! So is my Car Non -Interference or Not ??

[@Dwrecksk8Yo]

Yes it definitely is non interference my belt snapped twice on the highway 3 years apart and my idler pulley bolt snapped clean off below flush with the head and I pulled the head to helicoil the hole and when I did I lapped the valves and ported and polished the exhaust side of the head and none of the valves were even out of spec at all they looked brand new and my zx2 has 110000 miles on it. I know I’m probably way to late but I just wanted to let u know

[@luisloks]

so i installed push button start system in my zx2 178k MTX, turn it on with the button, then i turned it off and the on then off then on then off, at the 5th time that i dis this consecutively, smoke came out under the hood on the passenger side. then the rpm's went low and then the car died, since i started it on and off and on and off , would there be a chance that the smoke was caused by the timing belt jumping or something for starting in and shutting it off consecutively so quickly? or not. car now starts , rpms go as normal, then they slow down and then the car dies, unless i give it gas. as long as i give it gas the car will stay on but as soon as i let go , rpms go down and it dies.

[@MrOffAndOnOfficial]

+Ll Lock It might be possible that the timing jumped. I would put the engine on TDC and then pull the timing cover off and see if the timing marks line up. If it's not timing it sounds like fuel but there r a lot of things that can make a car die.

[@A.C.71]

You don't need to cut that shield. The third pulley he mentions mine didn't have it either..it came from the factory this way on my car since I'm the first one who's had it torn down so some zx2 apparently don't need it since there has never been even a slight issue.

[@stevensdiy9485]

valves can not be bent by the belt breaking do some research about the zetec its a myth

[@edlingja1]

Steven Freyler No. The silvertop 16V 2.0L america spec (came from euro ford, came from CVH engine, etc) is non-interference. Almost all other models sold after late 1998 with a zetec have the blacktop interference engine. It has a redesigned oil pump, meaning a new head from the euro design circa 1992 or so. Which was interference from like year 2.

[@stevensdiy9485]

i bought 10 of these cars with broke timing belts none had bent valves

[@edlingja1]

Also, the 1.8L euro versions pre-98 are non-interference. Albeit mazda may have a stake in that, there is a potential for differences between manufacturers using that block + each model year. Like some early 99 contours have the silvertop, non-interference. But only like dozens or so. Yamaha worked on this block, Mitsubishi used/uses it. I'm pretty sure it's nearly identical to the VW 1.8 as well, with the possibility of modifying parts from each side such as an intake or anything with matching dimensions. Have heard lots about motorcycle parts being used on the top half of many zetecs in the uk. They are usually the early 90's interference kind for circuit racing/karting.

[@reaperasylum2163]

@@edlingja1 you need to do more research, all zx2 2.0 dual cam engines are non interference and no such thing as bent valves

[@darrelltolentino6125]

@@edlingja1 this is so wrong. The zetec used in zx2 is non-interference for all years in the zx2. Kindly stop spreading wrong information

[@erikhuish4167]

Just to mention there is a pin lock down hole for the crank shaft at the back of the engine

[@pascualasanchez6160]

Hi would you kindly explain how it works?. Im wondering how to use that pin lock for taking out the pulley, otherwise I'll have to go with the ratchet to the floor!!!

[@adamjg4]

Non-interference engine - so no damage!

[@97warlock]

THAT SHIELD AT 1:17 THATS block the other little pulleys from coming off ........ anybody know a way of getting the pully off and NOT remove that aluminum shield completely?

[@mikeos6666]

Where can I get the timing cam bar tool

[@darrelltolentino6125]

it uses a flat bar, the part about the cams is wrong, The flat bar slides into the cams when properly installed

[@SlowZX2]

Also, you added an extra pulley which your ZX2 originally did not come with. This will cause future issues.

[@pascualasanchez6160]

I don't think so, I have read many issues about having the belt slipping out when driving on wet conditions, so I think that ones have that issue because their engine doesn't come with the third pulley, mine has the third pulley and I never have the belt slip problem

[@darrelltolentino6125]

@@pascualasanchez6160 nah, does not matter what you read. Adding the pulley to this engine in the video is a mistake which happens because people like you defend the install.

[@SlowZX2]

@@pascualasanchez6160 "Belt slipping out" on a ZX2 usually refers to the serpentine belt NOT timing belt. In that case you may need to replace your serpentine belt tensioner with a Gates brand one.

[@xdrfox]

good vid on

[@scorpioslab]

Its a non interference engine

[@SlowZX2]

The ZX2 has a noninterference engine. No worrying about bent valves here.

[@RetrozOffiziell]

If I block that with the pipe, something could break??, I don't dare ^^. Because I can't get the screw off with my hand, it's much too tight.

[@Osmotive970]

If you have a zetech zx2 do not add the extra pulley the extra pulley is strictly for 1999 models that share the same short block. The zetech head is too tall and causes super bad tension issues with the belt. Anyone who installed the extra pulley had a shredded belt in less than 30 miles. Also while this is a superbe video i cannot condone cutting the cover just do the job correct.

[@darrelltolentino6125]

this information is almost correct. The head dictates the use of the lower pulley. The placement of the upper idler pulley is how to determine if use of lower pulley is required. Good rule of thumb: if can remove pulley without it being interfered with by the center timing cover, then it uses the lower pulley (98/99 zx2). If the pulley is blocked by center timing cover then it does not use the lower pulley (99-03 zx2).

[@Himothy1243]

One of my pulleys broke on mine. Couldn't I just replace it rather than do all of this.

[@Himothy1243]

It was the idler pulley

[@user-ks8zq9jf6p]

I know this was a long time ago but could you help me out and fill me in on what went down with urs nd how you fixed it cuz my pulley broke to

[@davidis3001]

And the spinals get them off

[@marcosbosley7156]

Just did the same job the cover was easy. I spent more time to watch the video than to take it off. smh

[@carlosquihuis112]

No. Sirve

[@throbbitnightless2836]

Good luck!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Ya thx..................

[@akio2589]

These are non-interference engines, buuut... "When the timing belt breaks, the engine can bend the valves." "Gotta get the crank pulley loose." *proceeds to get in the car and roll the engine with no/broken timing belt* That's.... Not good practice. And it's not even close to the right way of doing it. If it WERE an interference engine, you would've bent any valves that weren't bent before. Not to mention damage that could be done to the flywheel/flexplate/starter teeth.

[@Dwrecksk8Yo]

And the cam lobes on cylinder one should be facing out towards exhaust and intake not in. And why was the keyway pointing at 8 o clock at the end of the video when you said you were done is that just from u trying it out off camera