as far as i know it is the same as a 98 and you just need to unbolt the vct (the sensor in the middle of the cams) and then you can pull the front cam apart
Remove everything in front of the timing cover. Loosen the oil pan. Remove the timing cover. Replace the chain and gears by lining up the dots on the old gears and installing the new gears with the same alignment. Clean everything real good and put it all back together.
Timing gears
you have to remove the valve cover , the oil pan and the front timing cover. Then line up all the timing marks and remove the tensioners and guides then remove the cam gears and the chain
You have to remove everything in the timing belt region including a timing belt, gears and plastic protection.
Why would you need to remove the gears unless they are broken? I hope you're not trying to take them off to replace the timing belt! If you need to get them off, you need to keep in mind that they are pressed onto the cams... There are a few bolts, but you'll also need a pulley or gear removal tool. (Check your local auto superstore) Be careful! Without the gears on, even though the cam is keyed to the gear, if you spin the cam, you could completely screw up the timing... I believe that Mazda engine in your contour is a zero-clearance engine, which means if you were 180 degrees off with one of your cams and started the engine, the valves would smash into the pistons and cause you a world of headaches.
First of all, they are called camshaft tower covers. You must remove the cam gears,then remove two of the four bolts behind the gears. Before you reinstall the cams put the crank timing mark at 3 o'clock position, then rotate it back to 12 o'clock after the alignment pegs in the cam gears have been inserted.
it has both chain and gears
after you remove the timing belt you will see the gears... the two top large gears are marked with an I on one and an E on the other. The gear on the bottom has a notch in it - all 3 gears should be turned until the notches on the gears match the notches on the block above the gears. If that does not make sense to you then contact Van Brunt motors at 607-733-0275 and ask for the parts department - the guys there can tell you how to do it - its simple really.
It has a timing chain and gears. NO timing belt.
Disconnect the battery. Drain the radiator. Remove the top radiator hose, radiator bracket, and fan . Remove the three piece timing belt cover. Remove then replace the belt, making sure that the timing gears are in the same place. Reverse the process to finish the installation.
how to get the timing gears off the crank and cam shaft
remove timing belt and cam gears and backing plate to access water pump