1999 Ford Escort Repair Question
Topics covered: Engine, Valves, Compression.
Mileage: 125,000 miles.
Mileage: 125,000 miles.
Asked on August 23, 2012
Timing Belt Tensioner spingyness - when to tell if its bad? 2.0 litre SOHC
My escort (99, 2.0, SOHC) died the other day, after hours checking it out I discovered that the timing belt was toast (missing a good dozen teeth) - this is a Zero tolerance engine but I check all the valves, and compression seemed good enough, so I figured a new belt was a cheap fix in the slim chance the engine was still good. After installing the belt the engine ran great. I did notice that the tensioner didn't really seem to be spring loaded anymore - I could tighten it with an Allen wrench and it seemed to stay tight but I could also loosen it and it would stick out of the way without using a drill bit to hold it. So - should I replace it? or is it ok? how much tension should be on it?
Answer
Replied on August 23, 2012
by all means, replace it. it could cause the belt to jump bending valves.
Roy