SPI Timing Belt Change How to

[a_2000_se]

Originally Posted by fordtec

.....also the oil pump has a timing mark that is also dead center.....

Yuppers - both timing marks straight up and you're good to go ( crank and cam). Silly me overlooked the timing mark on a 'NEW' oil pump housing - much too clean and shiny! And everything looks different off the car!! Kind of like how things look after a snow storm.......


moon111 - price depends on quality. You can buy belts for:

120k miles - Ford eom
90k miles -
60k miles - Dayco

belt and tensioner - $45 to 75+, over a year and a half ago though.

[P2Hitman]

2000 Focus LX
2.0L SOHC engine

I changed out the timing belt and put it back together and it doesn't start. It gets a spark, I can tell it's getting gas, and I've taken it apart to ensure it's stayed aligned. It sounds like a normal start for the first half second after you crank it over, then it's a lower, weaker sound. Got a new battery, same result. The only part I was lost at when putting it back together was putting on the crankshaft pulley. The placement of it, etc. It had a notch in it, so I lined the notch in the pulley with the notch in the crank sprocket. I also removed the crank sensor in a work fever, and found I didn't really need to do it. I don't think that was the issue though.

In speaking to a friend, he said that the number one cylinder had to be up, with the crank sprocket and cam sprockets in 12 o'clock position. Since the belt went bad and stripped the teeth off one section of the old belt, it may have thrown off my cylinders or something. I know I can tell if a cylinder is up with the spark plug out, my question is which one is my number one cylinder, and can my cam sprocket mark be at 12 o'clock and the #1 cylinder not be up?

[a_2000_se]

Originally Posted by P2Hitman

2000 Focus LX
2.0L SOHC engine

I know I can tell if a cylinder is up with the spark plug out, my question is which one is my number one cylinder, and can my cam sprocket mark be at 12 o'clock and the #1 cylinder not be up?

The #1 cylinder is closest to the belt(s).

"Can your #1 cylinder be TDC and cam NOT be at 12 o'clock?"

Yes. You can be on #1's Exhaust Stroke instead of the Compression Stroke (cam will be at 6 o'clock) - when your crank mark is straight up. Your crank turns two revolutions for every one revolution of the cam. For the Compression Stroke set Both the CAM and CRANK marks straight up. Use the marks on the head/block, oil pump housing to verify and for perfect accuracy the first time.

After you have installed the new belt, rotate the crank by hand two complete revolutions, clockwise, and check the markings again. Be sure not to hit a piston with a valve (debate is still on going if SOHC SPI is an interference engine or not).

Your bad belt slipped and the crank/cam weren't correctly positioned when the new belt was installed - MOST PROBABLE CAUSE.

Pages in Chiltons manual 2A-2 and 2A-4 show the markings to use for correct timing.

Also - your oil pump needs to be primed - VERY IMPORTANT, EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

New oil pumps need to be primed by hand through the pick-up mounting hole before the oil pick-up tube is installed on the pump and before the oil pump is installed on the engine. Rotate the oil pump by hand a few times while filling it with oil - then install the pick-up tube. Then install on the engine. Once on the engine, monitor the oil pressure while cranking the engine for 15 second intervals until the pressure comes up. Don't start the engine until the pressure comes up.

[boogyman1]

WOW ! amazing pro...

[chesterAK]

any tips on removing the harmonic balancer ?

[chesterAK]

so i just got done with my timing belt and timing belt tensioner it seamed overwhelming and nearley impossible untill i found this thread thanks guys saved me some cash