Helping a friend with a 99 contour with a 4 banger zetec. The timing belt is broke. Do these engines tend to just bend the valves or do they take the pistons out too? ANy tips or what to look out for? How many years of heads will swap with this?
bob
Countour zetec. timing belt
May 23, 2008
2 Replies
That should be a non-interference engine, so no bent valves, but you'll want to replace the belt tensioner while you're in there.
The Zetec engine is "supposed" to be a non interference engine, but in the real world they can and often do bend valves when problems with the belt happen. Valve damage is most common when the tensioner seizes and the belt wears away the plastic idler badly retarding the valve timing. Valve damage from the belt suddenly breaking from age happens in about half of the cases I've seen. A compression test will tell for sure.
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