HOW TO: ULTIMATE Ford Focus Zetec timing belt replacement video (2000-2004) 

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

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

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,

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

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!!

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.

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. And my motor had two idler pulleys on the timing belt, I simply didn't replace the lower one and removed it, runs great. Pretty sure the old one was at fault for the timing belt snapping, the inner edge of the pulley was all kinds of roughed up, and lined up with the marks on the timing belt.

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. Less work for me and it came out the exact way Thanks again for the video guys it helped me alot

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

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

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

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

These ztec motors are great motors great power and last a long time if you care for them very few problems

Bravo guys. The head of the engine twisted and broke the seal. Reaper 1600cc 16v 66KV 90HP.There is no other damage except that water enters the pistons and blows it out through the exhaust, so that the engine shuts down. I want to fix it and put my head back, but I need a tutorial on how much Newton it takes to tighten the head.

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

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

Thanks for this just what I needed really helpful 👍👍

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

Awesome video! Love the step by step video instruction.

Great video thanks for the help I did it all on my own with very small knowledge one engines but you guys have taught me multiple lessons Thank you mate

I own this car and I love it. non-interference engine is a big deal :D

Great vid

Thumbs UP, guys! :-) Same project on my 2002 1.8Zetec Focus.

How did you tighten the crank bolt? How did you keep the motor from spinning over when tightening the crank bolt? Is it okay to leave the crank pin it, then tighten the crank bolt??? This summer hopefully, I plan on rebuilding my zetec, boring it out & hopefully adding some power? Possibly shave the head/raise the compression, add new cams & followers, & if I can afford individual throttle body set up-itbs, wide band, ecu, injectors, & tune...That should wake this zetec up & give it a bit more air & fuel=more hp...

I was wondering can anyone tell me if the 1999 ford contour 2.0l is Interference or non-interference

If no impact gun, how do I loose and tighten the crankshaft bolt, without taking off the starter. The method with putting it in gear and push the brake doesn't work, because I'm just by myself.

It needs a 5-speed manual in it! or the 6-speed from the SVT Focus.

Nice job with the Video Guys!

Will the same power steering pump work on a Ford Escape with the same engine?

rockauto vs OEM/?? most parts are about the same price??

You say DONT use the lower idler pulley. I ordered a belt kit that came with the extra pulley and because my 2002 Zetec did not have one I left it out. I later found out what they are for. My daughter was using my car and she had a ' jittery ' way of cranking an engine when starting. She was jittery with the key and sometimes she would get a false start causing it to try and rotate backwards a few turns. Normally it would maybe just blow off vacuum lines but one time it caused the cam belt to jump over THREE TEETH on the crankshaft. When I fixed it I then put that extra pully in place as it helps keep the belt from jumping over teeth in the event of it turning backward. I don't know what you did to bend valves trying to use one.

Hi, can you do a turbo kit on this engine, cheap build

Where are you guys located at

Thank you. Got mine put back together. Is it normal to run rough for a minute and then smooth out? Test drove it and it runs smooth now but for the first crank, it didn't sound good.

Hello I've done my timing belt change and now it has a rough idle and shakes but only on idle. I can rev the engine with no problems. As soon as I give even a 100rpm the shaking stops and the engine sings

Man I was jamming to the music bro !!!..LA style music.

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

where is the ac low pressure switch located

Thank you guys great video, ion the three pieces tool set what are theirs sizes? Thanks and cheers from Ontario ca, I suscribed to you channel

Nice video!!👍

Does the stroke #1 is on matter or can it be on any of the 4 strokes as long as the piston itself is at TDC? I've been looking into doing this and am not finding a definitive answer as to if it has to be TDC on the compression stroke or just at TDC.

I'm having trouble with the timing belt tensioner. Turning the Allen key doesn't move the notched piece at all. So basically it will not hold the correct tension.

do you have a vid for doing the head gasket change out for the same motor??

Great video. Please let me know how many torques f/lb when you have tighten the cam bolts and crank bolt? Thank you your useful video.

I actually had the head off to do a gasket and had to take the cams off... dumb question but I’m stuck here. Do you leave the cam journals loose when you put the alignment tool in? Or tighen them and then put the tool in?

Do you have any info or videos on aftermarket cams and adjustable cam gears?

why didn't you drain the radiator thru the drain on the left bottom of the radiator. then you wouldn't have a bath in coolant.

i have a 1995 ford fiesta 1.6 16v zetec. its an European model. is it also a non interference engine? it has a engine code of L1G.

Hi. Could you please tell me the torx size for the camshaft? Largest I have is T50 but it’s too small

I have a question, I replaced a timimging belt, tensioner and idle pully.. on a 2002 zetec 2.0 And after the service... it sound like it was trying to breath... and it ran roughly....like it was missing firing. So I doubled checked my, work once again.. retimmed everything, using the special cam Alignment tools. But still the same.. I noticed the crank breather hose had collapsed...replaced that, and the PVC and the small elbow rubber hose.. made a little difference, but not by much... also the brakes are stiff... I know it's now, something to deal with the brake booster/master cylinder... Have you guys ever experienced this issue... I've checked for a miss fire... but all spark plugs are good.. and wires are new.... I'm not too sure.. what it could be...

I got all New parts for my project, But I can't find the camshaft tool kit, where do i find it, so I can do my timing belt

Hey I have a question... I have an 04 svt focus with “bent valves” is there any way to keep my timing set while removing the head for rebuild or will I have to do the TDC procedure too? Also where would the cams be set to when I install the head again?

My 02 ford zx2 camshaft was stripped on intake pulley torx bolt. I can get the exhaust one loose. Anyway to make it work? Also main question is, what should i look for while turning crank 4 revolutions? If the timing is off a little, will my engine be destroyed if i tried to start it

How many miles were on that car? You mentioned the belt should have been changed "long ago". My zx3 has 135k on it and I doubt the timing belt was ever changed, so...I'll be checking the condition of my belt tonight!

You should have mentioned that all non usa zetec engines are interference engines like the svt.

Does anyone know where to get a replacement timing belt tensioner bolt?

Yo my man quick question, even if my timing was off just a tick or two could that cause damage to my engine? It was only run on idle maybe for 45minutes before we re done the belt with the correct timing tools

How did you loosen cam wheels

It needs a 5-speed manual in it!

You guys might be the best to ask? I changed my timing belt & tensioner, main & rod bearings, water pump, thermostat, & upper & lower thermostat housings=(stupid design, should be one complete package-ugh!) Anywho, I had to use a breaker bar & crank the motor to loosen the crank bolt(of coarse I disconnected the coil wires!) but, HOW CAN I TIGHTEN DOWN THE CRANK BOLT? WITHOUT DAMAGING THE TIMING TOOL??? THE MOTOR SPINS WHEN I TRY TO TORQUE IT, I GOT IT AS TIGHT AS I COULD & HAVE DRIVEN IT FOR A HOT MINUTE-1 & 1/2 YEAR & IN THE BACK OF MY MIND, IT BOTHERS ME!!! PLUS, I DID NOT USE A DEGREE WHEEL UPON TIMING! it runs as good as b4 I did it but, It makes me wonder & I plan on doing a full rebuild again this summer! My Father passed as I was rebuilding the motor/replacing the main & rod bearings, timing & water pump so, I rushed it together in the dark to make it to the funeral the next morning(A WHOLE OTHER STORY!!!) In the back of my mind, I know that with a degree wheel, & a top end kit, new piston rings, head gasket, head bolts, head rebuild kit & possibly upgrading the cams & followers, I should be able to get more out of this motor! ALSO, MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS MY COOLING FANS! EVERYTHING IS NEW! NEW FANS, CYLINDER HEAD TEMP SENSOR, COOLING FAN SOLONOID, EVEN THE FAN RELAYS YET, THE FANS WILL NOT WORK!!! SO, I SPLICED INTO THE CHT SENSOR WIRES, RAN A TOGLE SWITCH INTO THE CAR & WHEN I FLIP THE TOGGLE, IT BREAKS THE CIRCUT TO THE(CHT-CYLINDER HEAD TEMP SENSOR) & THE FANS COME ON, I AM GUESSING ON HI-SPEED. WHEREAS OTHER VIDS RUN A JUMPER WIRE IN THE FUSE BOX & THE FANS RUN CONSTANTLY OR THEY DISCONNECT THE CHT SENSOR CAUSING THE FANS TO RUN CONSTANTLY & THAT FRIED MY ALTERNATOR SO THE TOGGLE SWITCH ALLOWS ME TO CONTROLL THEM BUT, IT'S NOT RIGHT! I'd like them to work properly & not have to constantly watch my temp & guess when they need to be on or off! Also, since its on HI, It's hard on the car & causes the headlights to flicker, I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS LOW SPEED OR SIMPLY HAVE THEM WORK PROPERLY. any advice???

It is an interference engine mate

this !!!IS!!! interference engine, you just got lucky.