If you have any questions feel free to drop them below!

Thank you for clearing up the non interference thing. I thought so (after extensive research), and shops still argue me about it. I'm just going to show them this video next time 👍 great vid, super thorough, thanks! Btw, keep an eye out for my 01' Focus Custom build!!

I give you guys props for actually showing where the crank pin inserts! Even you guys stated, "IT GOES ON THE BACK OF THE BLOCK" Which can be misleading, it's on the front of the motor behind the catalytic convertor/slightly to the right/driver side of cat. When I did my timing & water pump in the fall of 17, the video's online didn't show exactly where the pin location was, everyone said, "On the back of the block so, I assumed it went in on the rear, the firewall side of the block, Looked & looked. BUT, Eventually I found it behind the cat,

Honesty this is the only other zetec timing belt video thats actually good, the other one being the one made by zx2 fast. I thought you guys did a great job telling everyone the few major things needed to do a proper time job on this motor. I own a 2000 ( well 99.5, manufacturing date was 07/28/99) ford escort zx2 and before spending a hell of alot of time studying and practicing, making mistakes and fixing them, there was only the one video made by anyone with true practical experience and knowledge regarding this engine that points out the things that makes this engine diverge from normal timing belt jobs. I've seen many professional mechanics do this job completely wrong so it's nice to see one who knows what they are doing and you made a awesome video in the process. I especially like how you mentioned that lower idler being nothing but trouble because when I purchased this vehicle from it's previous one and only owner it had 88 thousand miles on it and during an attempt to fix the rough idle in the vehicles history was a timing belt job by the Ford dealership in which they removed the idler next to the crank and when I purchased the car I did a timing belt/ everything else you did in this video and I noticed the lower idler was missing so I put it on there not knowing ford had just done the job, mainly bc coolant was leaking from the weep whole letting me know it was time for a new one, and 3 months later the camshaft idler across from the tensioner snapped clean off with just the threads of the bolt remaining in the head and it was a royal pain in the ass to fix that I actually bought an air hose fitting and used a 8x1.25 tap to make new threads for the new bolt then I used a 10x1.5 die to make external threads on it and then i tapped the head of the engine with the 10x1.5 and put locktite on the outer threads and screwed it in then used a grinder with a diamond blade and grinded the hose fittings nut driver section off so that it was flush with the head again and this is after hell coiling it before and it failed again so this was the real fix. After the first helicoi fix failed I realized through turning the engine over a million times by hand that that lower idler was putting more stress on the cam idler above it and actually the whole exhaust side so I loosend the tensioner and the intake and vct sprockets and took the lower idler out of the equation and it hasn't even showed signs of failing since. I realize there are infinite variables here but after checking many many times the tension on the belt and correct phasing and bolt strength and clearances the lower idler was the only new variable. Sorry for the long post loved your video if u ever get a escort zx2 in the shop film it ! Lol . Keep doing what your doing

Thank you for the excellent and informative video! You helped answer some crucial questions I had on my upcoming timing belt change for my daughter's 2003 Zetec. It is good to know that these particular engines are non-interference too. Also, I wasn't going to loosen the cam pullies till I watched your video... you've saved me a ton of pain in the ass. Thank you.

Awesome video! Love the step by step video instruction.

great guide! i haven't done my cambelt yet but ive done practically everything else on my beloved mk1! long live the zetec!

I'll give y'all a back yard mechanic trick you don't have to take any more off than the cam gear cover and the crank pulley and cover and loosen the tensioner all the way and just feed the belt down the tensioner side then turn the side of the belt that is toward the front of the car side ways and work it between the divider and the block till it goes through and is in correct position against the front pulley . Then the rest is just making sure your timing is good

If anyone is struggling with the cam gears especially on your own, you can just leave the cam gears tight put in your timing slab to stop the camshaft from rotating and put the belt on by hand just make the tensioner loose so there is maximum slack then use force to bump the belt on. (The last part I put on was the idler) using 2 small screwdrivers helped me lift the belt as well.

Thank you. I've just changed my first ever timing belt, with 100% success. I will note that: I had to remove the starter and lock the flywheel with a screwdriver to remove my drive sprocket since my timing belt had broken while driving. I then had to adjust the cams back into alignment at TDC, which was easy enough by spinning them by the sprockets (the exhaust cam was just 1/8th rotation off from the intake). I found it easier to get the timing pin into the plug from the top, by removing the coolant hoses from the thermostat housing.

Got a cast aluminum thermostat housing from yall and it's been working great, thanks-

Thanks for taking the time to let me know the bolt sizes.

Thanks for this just what I needed really helpful

Nice job with the Video Guys!

good video, doing mine again soon, good to have a refresh.

i have a zx2 and am having problems with the phasing of the exhaust cam, any ideas that would be of help

Great vid

Great video I wish I would have watched it last night before doing mine but it's whatever 😂

Yep. Same thing happened to mine at about 190k. Just "died" when I hit the gas at a light. Same symptoms. The tensioner on these tend to make squealing noises as they age as well. The European versions can be interference btw which may be why you see it referenced as such.. Great car overall. Thanks for the great video

Thats crazy, i have the same thing going on with my black 1994 Ford Escort LX Coupe, which is like this one, but about 10 years older. My mechanic thought the motor was blown, but to his surprise, the timing belt was shredded, so he bought a new timing belt for me to install on it, because he is done with fords lol