timing - zetec 2.0L

[.ks]

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

[fwracer]

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

[pre98zetec]

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.

[chevyn0va1]

Originally Posted by .ks

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.