timing - zetec 2.0L

Hi Folks,

-new to the forum; apologies if this question has been hashed to death and I just didn't see it in my archive search: Are there any marks for (anywhere) for cylinder 1 TDC?

Here's my story: I had an accessory belt idler pulley die on my zetec (2000 Escort ZX2). When I got down to the pulley, I saw that I only had a short way to go to do the timing belt as well (120k, might as well...). I did not set the engine to cyl 1 TDC, I brashly thought I could slip old belt off and new belt on. Oops. Okay, second try, I lined up the grooves on the end of the camshafts by eye (didn't have the official camshaft alignment tool). Everything back together, runs poorly, I assume I missed the time. Take covers off, yup (insert Maxwell Smart voice: missed it by that much...). Made myself an alignment tool, everything back together, runs much better than earlier try, but something is definitely wrong. While driving, I get bucking, hiccups, etc.

"Check Engine" light is on. I use the code reader to and it tells me I have a crankshaft position indicator failure.

Do crankshaft position indicators really fail? I'm thinking I just still have the crankshaft timing buggered. I eyeballed TDC when putting the belt on; maybe things slipped. Before I get back into the belt, is there a mark somewhere to show I'm really at TDC? Is there a way to tell if the position indicator is really bad?

thanks much,
Kevin

Dont know, but youve got this in the wrong forum, try the zx2 forums further down the list, thats where most of the z guys are.

Fwracer

its absoloutely CRITICAL that you make sure cylinder 1 is TDC BEFORE you remove the belt.. I've tried this and it took me 3 tries before I got the timing back right.

Hi Folks,

-new to the forum; apologies if this question has been hashed to death and I just didn't see it in my archive search: Are there any marks for (anywhere) for cylinder 1 TDC?

Here's my story: I had an accessory belt idler pulley die on my zetec (2000 Escort ZX2). When I got down to the pulley, I saw that I only had a short way to go to do the timing belt as well (120k, might as well...). I did not set the engine to cyl 1 TDC, I brashly thought I could slip old belt off and new belt on. Oops. Okay, second try, I lined up the grooves on the end of the camshafts by eye (didn't have the official camshaft alignment tool). Everything back together, runs poorly, I assume I missed the time. Take covers off, yup (insert Maxwell Smart voice: missed it by that much...). Made myself an alignment tool, everything back together, runs much better than earlier try, but something is definitely wrong. While driving, I get bucking, hiccups, etc.

"Check Engine" light is on. I use the code reader to and it tells me I have a crankshaft position indicator failure.

Do crankshaft position indicators really fail? I'm thinking I just still have the crankshaft timing buggered. I eyeballed TDC when putting the belt on; maybe things slipped. Before I get back into the belt, is there a mark somewhere to show I'm really at TDC? Is there a way to tell if the position indicator is really bad?

thanks much,
Kevin

autozone.com has a great how to on thier site but off the top of my head it calls for an alignment tool to set it all in place.