2000 ZX2 Engine Whining Sound

[jcantu1982]

Tim, The whining sound on mine was miserable. The last thing I did is posted above dated...10-11-05. But am not sure I would recommend anyone to do it.

Let us know how it goes.

[zx2srdotnet]

at 6500 i sound like im supercharged

[Timtickle]

How often are you 6500 rpm.

[zx2srdotnet]

all the damn time

[Timtickle]

its a 2.0 engine its going to whin at 6500 rpm. its not a 5.0. enen when i bought mine brand new in 99 it was a loud running engine. There is really none to speak of when you talk sound proofing in the zx2.

[zx2srdotnet]

yeah i know that, ive owned a ZX2 for over 4yrs. its the belts

[Davescort97]

[quote=Timtickle]Im not sure what brand my belt is but i changed my timming and serpentine belt in the same day and my car has been whinning since then. I have gotten used to it. Please post your fix

Tim[/QUOTE

On Escorts two different kinds of timing gears were used. Those with square teeth and those with round teeth. When replacing the timing belt it is IMPERATIVE to determine which kind you have. One kind of belt on the other kind of gear will whine. Sounds just like a supercharger. I found out the hard way. The wrong belt went 12,000 miles before it finally stripped out.

[Timtickle]

Great! In a good sence and a bad one. If i remember right i think the gear was square. Do the store carry both? They never asked me if i need one or the other.

[zx2srdotnet]

Originally Posted by Timtickle

Great! In a good sence and a bad one. If i remember right i think the gear was square. Do the store carry both? They never asked me if i need one or the other.

all zx2's should have roundish teeth

[Husky1986]

My 99 zx2 whines also. I am pretty sure it is the serpentine belt. I have just replaced it, but not sure if it did it before since i just got it in a non-running state. I ran the engine without the serpentine and the whining noise went away. I wonder if one of my pulley bearings are bad. All the pulleys spun just fine before i put the belt on. I have heard that they whine sometimes without anything being wrong with them.
Can anyone help?

[jcantu1982]

FINALLY FIXED THE WHINING SOUND!!!

As I said before I had replaced the pulley on the belt tensioner, that didn't work. 20K miles later, what happened is that the belt tensioner somehow locked up, causing belt to come off. So, I replaced the Belt Tensioner with one I bought from Advance Auto Parts. It really didn't have enough tension on it and caused rough acceleration and idling. I ordered one from Ford, replaced it, and it works great. NO WHINING SOUND, at last!!!! So, all this time it was that dead-gum belt tensioner!

I hope this helps out somebody, cause it drove me up the wall. Later!

[AltecZX2]

Live at 7300RPM..then tell me about whine. Most of the time it just the belts them selfs.

[riproaringca]

Hey all.

My '99 ZX2 needed a new belt a couple of weeks ago. Symptoms were a squeal when I first started up the car and until I accelerated. After about 5 seconds of acceleration it would go away, but return when stopped at a light or just parked and idling. And it was getting worse as the days passed.
Anyway, I did get a Gatorback belt from the parts store. Pretty aggressive belt, if you ask me but man-o-man it grips those pulleys!

I do notice a bit of a hum from the new belt, but it's better than the squeal from the old worn one!
When I installed the new one I found that the spring-loaded tensioner pulley/arm was seized after remaining in one position for so long. (I bought the car used so who knows when the belt was replaced last.) I worked it back and forth while installing the new belt just to get it moving freely again. Seems to have worked. (Pay attention to your grip on the wrench/socket - that tensioner arm is mighty strong. The spring will snap the tensioner back into place if given the chance, and there's little space to get your fingers out of the way!)

If you're going to replace the belt yourself, be sure to write down the pathway before taking the old one off. Again, there isn't a lot of space to get a good view of things along that side so having a "map" will come in handy when it comes time to put the new belt on. It's a lot easier with two people working on this job, too. (For those of us who aren't pro mechanics!) Another helpful tip is to get a Haynes or Chilton manual which describes this project. The diagram in the book saved a lot of time -- and minimized the swearing!

Same discovery here as other posters now that the new belt is on, and the tensioner has been corrected:

• The car runs A LOT more smoothly.
• The car idles more quietly.
• The mileage has improved noticeably.

Hope this helps fellow ZX2'ers!