How do I change the timing belt on my 98 Ford Escort ZX2?

I just did it recently and its not as hard as the guy above says it is but it does take a lot of time and effort to do. Accessing some of the parts in the damn thing will be hard. To alighn camshafts all you need is a camshaft alighning tool(which all it is is apiece of angle iron a fifth of an inch thick. It will slide on the opposite end of the camshaft sprockets in some designated grooves thats off centered so it will only fit ONE WAY. Once its in the cams are in alighned. Then alighned your crankshaft and to do that find a some notches on the cs pulley and align the second pair to a rib on the oil pan. From there put the belt on and thats that. DOnt get me wrong it is hard as hell operating in those tight conditions but its no longer than a days work if you have all the tools and a Haynes manual. Good luck mate!

1NonlyNyuR
May 2005

That one I wouldn't even touch, and I don't mind doing my own stuff to save some money. First thing, you're going to have to jack up your car so you're able to take off the plastic, lower cover. I have a 1999 model ZX2 Sport, but it can get pretty tricky. Lets say that you do have the covers off. You're going to have to loosen the belt tensioner pulley, and take off the rest of the other pulleys operating your system (alternator/air conditioner/etc.). Considering that ford loves to cram 50 lbs. of mechanics in a 20 lb. engine compartment, this won't be exactly easy to get to. Next, you're going to have to remove numerous gear shims and other things to remove the timing belt. BUT, once you put a new one on, you're going to have to be absolutely sure that both gears for the cams are aligned with respect to one another (one side up, one side down / alternating when running). If that doesn't happen, it's going to screw up everything else. Personally, I would have somebody else do it. Go to an AutoZone or something and take a quick peak at a Hayne's auto manual. You'll get a better understanding of what is in store if you want to do it yourself.

H. McCartney
December 2004