98 2.0L Vtec timing belt issue

I spent this weekend changing the timing belt on a 98 Contour with the 2.0L Zetec engine. It has the variable cam timing feature. The old belt had about 10 inches of teeth stripped off. I followed a post on this list about doing the job and also borrowed a timing belt book from a local shop which gave me some supplimental info such as making sure the exhaust cam is in the fully advanced position relative to the sprocket. The cam can be rotated about 30 degrees relative to the sprocket. The borrowed timing belt book said to rotate the sprocket counter clockwise with the cam locked by the alignment bar before installing the new timing belt. I did all this and everything checked out. When rotating the crankshaft two turns, the intake cam is still perfectly aligned but the exhaust cam is slightly retarded. Without moving the sprockets or belt, using an open end wrench on the cam, I can rotate the cam clockwise until it stops and then it's back in alignment. From what I've read when the engine shuts down, that's fairly normal postion for the cam to be in. Now fast forward and I've got it all back together. It idles rough, no power when driving and still rough. Took things apart and timing still as described as above. What am I missing? Does it take the computer a while after the battery being disconnected to get it's "bearings"? I only ran and drove it about 3-4 minutes. Help!

I recently just changed my timeing belt, it was apain in the ass.try getting a Chilton automotive manual,any auto parts store. follow directions for procedure. make sure you have the intake & exaust right, using a flat ruler it will only fit if their turned the right way,crank cam has to be lined up with the arrow on block . the book should really help.good luck.I spent this weekend changing the timing belt on a 98 Contour with the 2.0L Zetec engine. It has the variable cam timing feature. The old belt had about 10 inches of teeth stripped off. I followed a post on this list about doing the job and also borrowed a timing belt book from a local shop which gave me some supplimental info such as making sure the exhaust cam is in the fully advanced position relative to the sprocket. The cam can be rotated about 30 degrees relative to the sprocket. The borrowed timing belt book said to rotate the sprocket counter clockwise with the cam locked by the alignment bar before installing the new timing belt. I did all this and everything checked out. When rotating the crankshaft two turns, the intake cam is still perfectly aligned but the exhaust cam is slightly retarded. Without moving the sprockets or belt, using an open end wrench on the cam, I can rotate the cam clockwise until it stops and then it's back in alignment. From what I've read when the engine shuts down, that's fairly normal postion for the cam to be in. Now fast forward and I've got it all back together. It idles rough, no power when driving and still rough. Took things apart and timing still as described as above. What am I missing? Does it take the computer a while after the battery being disconnected to get it's "bearings"? I only ran and drove it about 3-4 minutes. Help!

I spent this weekend changing the timing belt on a 98 Contour with the 2.0L Zetec engine. It has the variable cam timing feature. The old belt had about 10 inches of teeth stripped off. I followed a post on this list about doing the job and also borrowed a timing belt book from a local shop which gave me some supplimental info such as making sure the exhaust cam is in the fully advanced position relative to the sprocket. The cam can be rotated about 30 degrees relative to the sprocket. The borrowed timing belt book said to rotate the sprocket counter clockwise with the cam locked by the alignment bar before installing the new timing belt. I did all this and everything checked out. When rotating the crankshaft two turns, the intake cam is still perfectly aligned but the exhaust cam is slightly retarded. Without moving the sprockets or belt, using an open end wrench on the cam, I can rotate the cam clockwise until it stops and then it's back in alignment. From what I've read when the engine shuts down, that's fairly normal postion for the cam to be in. Now fast forward and I've got it all back together. It idles rough, no power when driving and still rough. Took things apart and timing still as described as above. What am I missing? Does it take the computer a while after the battery being disconnected to get it's "bearings"? I only ran and drove it about 3-4 minutes. Help!
hmm sounds like you're aligning the cams correctly but wat about the crank shaft?there is a special tool that threads into the side of the block near the exhaust that i use in order to perfectly align the crankshaft.