2000 2.0L 4cyl DOHC Escort engine ?

Can anyone tell me if the engine in the title is a Interference engine or not. My daughter had the timing belt break and the mechanic first said it was and that there is probably damage. I got on the web and was doing some looking and from what I was seeing on the Gates site, I am thinking that it isnt a interference engine. Can someone in the know tell me which it is.

thanks for the help

mike

I don't think its an interference type. Why not slip on a new belt and see if it runs? If you do it yourself, you'll only be out about $15 or so.

I wish I was more mechanically inclined to do things like that. The mechanic said that the engine was making a clanky sound when he would try to turn it over. That sound was what made him think that there was damage. I heard it and it didnt sound normal, but I agree with having a new belt put on and trying it. thanks for your reply.

mike

Not knowing much about the mileage on your vehicle, but my experience has been on my older escort, that when you change/replace the timing belt, you should also replace the water pump at the same time, that is if the timing belt drives the pump like it does on mine. I found out the hard way that the pump should be replaced too when it went out a few thousand miles after the new belt I put on. For my car I wished I had done it because it wasn't simple like changing an accessory belt. Did you possibly loose antifreeze indicating a water pump failure and possibly the strange noise? I 'm not familiar with that engine to really be more helpful.

The 2.0 Zetec DOHC engine is not an interference engine. Neither is the 1.9 SOHC or the 2.0 SPI SOHC. The years for an interference engine were from 1981 to 1986. The water pump is not driven by the timing belt. It is driven externally with the accessory belt. It can be replaced without taking off the timing belt. There's really no incentive to get the water pump replaced when the timing belt is changed except for the fact that the accessory drive belt must be pulled for both jobs..

Wish my 86 was that way. I forgot to mention a tensioner is used on the timing belt of my escort and should also be replaced at the same time if used in yours. Wouldn't there be one on the 2000? How else is the belt tensioned? If you're and it is there, you might as well replace it. Can Davescort97 verify this?

Now I can speak with certainty that my 1.9L engine made in Oct. 85 is NOT an interference engine and so all like it in other years wouldn't be either. I know this because the timing belt went on mine and it's still running today. There were 4 engines made during this time, so besides mine, I wouldn't know if they interfere or not.

Whoa! If your mechanic is hearing something making unusual noises ... perhaps something has come loose. That is an "interference" of another kind.

By rotating the crank, he should be able to tell.

My ex talked to the mechanic and he told her that a pulley broke that the timing belt rides on and that was what was causing the strange noise. He will replace that part and put on a new timing belt. Thats all I know for now because I wasnt able to get ahold of the mechanic to get all the details. But, that sounds better to me than the thought of major engine damage repair. I appreciate all the replys back to our issue.

mike

It sure sounds like the idler tensioner pulley bearing for the timing belt failed to me. Let us know. Thanks