How do you set the timing belt on an 2-liter Zetec engine?

Answer 1

Hi Everyone,This is Jerry from Chillicothe, Ohio,Timing is very credical on this motor,Here,s how you time this motor,Start off with unhooking the negative cable from battery.Remove the right hand tire first,then the fender well,now you can get to and see everything pretty good,Least you think will at least i can see a motor now,makes it alot better,remove front air dam two,drain radiator because you should replace the water pump to.You don,t want to do this over again do you,it,s behind the timing system.Start by turning crankshaft clockwise 2 revolutions,line up the second mark on the balancer with the mark on the oil pan.That should put you right on 1 tdc,remove valve cover,slip cam holding tool in both ends of both camshafts.Resting tool on valve cover flat surface,and the tool will set there in the notches and rest on valve cover top flat surface.Loosen the timing belt tensioner,turn bolt as far from the belt as possible.Don,t turn anything,Slip the new belt on the timing system starting at the crankshaft and going in clockwise manner,install belt.Loosen the timing belt tensioner bolt,remove camshaft holding tool,now turn the motor over two revolutions with the timing belt tensioner loose.It will seat against the belt on it,s own by turning it over clockwise the tensioner will draw up tight giving the timing belt the correct belt tension.Now tighten timing belt tensioner bolt to correct tourqe.turn motor over two more revolutions,and recheck your timing,with the balancer marks lined up,second mark on balancer alined with big mark on oil pan,also check an see that camshaft holding tool will still slip right in both ends of intake an exaust cam slots,if so ,you have your new timing belt installed and in time 100% as it left the factory brand new.Word of advise,replace water pump,all idler pulley,s.New timing belt tensioner,this is pretty hard work for a diy,That,s why i recommend replacing everything because the water pump is behind it,plus it only has a timing belt tensioner,two other idler pulley,s.Plus going through and doing it again ,you woulden be very happy if you had to take the timing system all apart an replace a water pump,no i woulden be very happy either.Getting back to timing belt.After tightening tensioner bolt make sure the tensioner spring is new or same as new and the retaining pin installed an the tensioner spring is hooked up to it perfect,On these cars you have to replace the tensioner spring plus a retaing pin,the tensioner spring hook,s to the tensioner baking plate hole,an hook,s on the retaining pin.After all of this is right on,now your ready to reinstall.Take your time and reinstall everything,hit the switch and it wont turn over once and it,ll be started and ready to go another 60,000 miles.You can do this,after you do you,ll no alot more about the car your driving.The Ford Contour is a very good automobile,it is just like anycar,it need,s a little preventive maintenance program.A Contour will last a long long while as long as you drive it correctly,and maintain it right,I have a 1995 model contour it has 151,000 miles and realy looks like it has a 1,000 miles on it.I do everything myself and in the summer it is important to use a good a grade motor oil.