Noise from timing belt

I am working on a 01 Ford Contour ZX2, I replaced the serpentine belt and tensioner because the belt was squeeling and the tensioner was going bad. well after i got it all together and took it for a test drive I got a new noise sounded like a bearing squeeling/growling (similar to a bad water pump). I got out my stethoscope and the noise is deffinately coming from under the timing belt cover, I removed the upper cover and the front cam gear (exhaust side) has something on the end of it and the noise is coming from this gear. Anyone have any ideas what it is?

Joe

Usually when something is on the end of the gear it it is a guide for the timing belt. Is the bolt for the gear tight. You could pull the bearing cap for the gear look for discoloration or other type problems. Check the belt tensioner to tight of a belt will make them sing. This normally would happen installing a new belt.
Is the side of the belt worn indication of a bad guide for the belt.

The belt looks fine, I did some research and found that the exhaust cam is a
variable camshaft timimg assembly and this was diagnosed as being bad in other vehicles which had similar noises (I assume the noise was similar) - but I guess it ended up being the PCV valve was clogged and made pressure in the upper end build up and gave it this noise or something along those lines. I won't be able to check it out until next week when I got back to work.

Just an FYI...The ZX2 was an Escort, not a Contour.

Yea, sorry about that. thats what I meant