The daily driver has 120K on the timing belt and should be replaced before it self-destructs. Is this a job I can do without a lift and and no special tools? o No: John :beers2:
There were 2 different 2.0 liter engine used on those cars. One was an SPI and one was a zetec. Which do you have?
You might get you a shop manual or do some more research on the net as to the difficulty. I can't see it as being too much but it might require some special tools. You can usually borrow or rent them from the part house you get the replacement parts. I'm sure that cleanliness is your friend and using quality parts would probably be best. Let us know how you make out.
john, if youv've never done a timing belt i would let a pro do it. the tensioner should be checked, the crankshaft pulley needs to come off also. no matter who does it, consider replacing the water pump while your in there.
The SPI 2.0 is a single cam and the Zetec 2.0 is Dual cam. I have the factory service manual and the SPI looks very simple, the Zetec is slightly more involved and requires a few special tools for cam alignment according to the service manual.
If it is the Mazda twin cam in a GT there not bad to do. The sprockets stay on and the only thing I remember being a little tuff was the timming mark line up. I had to advance a tooth and after the tentioner took up the slack it all lined up. I would replace the tentioner as well or it will sing to you after you are done, AL.
It's a single cam so must be the SPI. I've done timing chains on the older cars where there was lots of access but never a timing belt. Will search the net for step by step and see what I can find before ripping into it. John :beers2:
I just got through tearing into an '01 Escort 2.0 SPI. Haynes manual was a lifesaver. Timing belt wasn't too hard at all, hardest part is getting a wrench on the middle / rear cover bolt. You'll need a metric allen wrench for the tensioner, 8mm iirc. And whatever you do, don't let that engine overheat - they like to spit their steel valve seats out of the alum head. This one bent the #2 rod, shattered the piston, and beat the hell out of the head.
I just had my 1995 escort wagon drop a valve seat. what a bummer. Didn't do much damage to the piston but the head was toast. cost 325 for the new head. Not a bad job to do though. The timing belt is simple, but i would agree a water pump and tensioner are a good idea. get a good water pump and tensioner from napa. Bob
