Valve lash for 2000 ZTS?

You can check the valve lash with feeler gauges to see if they in spec. The valve lash is adjusted with thickness shims which go on top of the bucket lifters Any Haynes manual for the Ford Focus explains how it is done, but to do it properly you do need lots of patience, a micrometer and a couple of specialised tools and shims of various thicknesses. If you have never done this before its best left to the experts. If you have reached the stage that the lifters need adjusting its also time to replace the timing belt and timing belt idler rollers etc.

"Mauricio Tavares" wrote in message news:j94ag.61023$IZ2.18781@dukeread07... Someone I know has a 2000 Focus ZTS (?) with the Zetec engine. We want to check the valve lash and adjust it as possible but cannot find any info on it. Also, we cannot find a tappet to replace (the little bucket thingie on the top of the valve has no place for one) nor find any other way to adjust the valve clearance. How is that done/checked? There must be a way because I could swear I saw performance cams for it which specify the lash.

Ah- no, not at least on my 2000 Focus SE Wagon with the Zetec E engine. The tappets are one piece and there are no shims, the entire tappet is replaced to adjust valve lash.

You might be able to replace the one-piece tappets with shimmable ones from an earlier Zetec as found in the Contour/Mystique, but I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble.

Interesting! The Ford workshop manual and the Haynes and Chilton manuals all call for shims to adjust valve lash.

These shims sit on top on the Cam Follower (bucket lifter). When I had my valve lash adjusted they had to use shims. I am going to call them in the morning and tell them that they ripped me off because they charged me for shims when they should have replaced all the lifters. They only charged me $165 to do this service and I should have paid well over $500 I feel cheated. But wait you are not a Ford Tech? So you really do not know how to adjust the valves on a Zetec engine, and made a wild guess on how to do it. So you can learn something here; If you look at the Cam Follower one might naturally assume that there are no shims, But! the shims are slightly larger in diameter than the Cam follower (bucket lifter) so you might not see them.

Those flames are burning.

Ah- no, not at least on my 2000 Focus SE Wagon with the Zetec E engine. The tappets are one piece and there are no shims, the entire tappet is replaced to adjust valve lash.

You might be able to replace the one-piece tappets with shimmable ones from an earlier Zetec as found in the Contour/Mystique, but I'm not sure it would be worth the trouble.

Henri wrote: [top posting and incorrect attribution levels fixed]

You've obviously got a different engine in your Focus, than I have in mine.

Look, I have had the cam cover off my Focus and I can say from actual first hand experience- there are NO shims on top of the buckets of my

2000 model year US-spec Focus 2.0l Zetec-E engine.

I also have the printed genuine Ford service manual and I have the genuine Ford service manual CD, all of which are in agreement.

I can even give you part numbers for these shimless buckets.

So- who's confused, you or me?

Here's the relevant section from the CD, pay special note to:

"Exchange the tappets to correct the valve clearance."

and:

1. Note: The number on the tappet indicates the tappet thickness. Determine the tappet thickness required. Remove the adjusting tappet and read the thickness from the back side. Determine the tappet thickness required and insert the correct tappet.

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2000 Focus Table of Contents Group 3: Powertrain Section 303-01D: ENGINE ? 2.0L ZETEC-E GENERAL PROCEDURES

Valve Clearance (212130)

Special Service Tool(s)

Remover, Spark Plug Wire

303-106 (T74P-6666-A)

Adjust

CAUTION: Exchange the tappets to correct the valve clearance.

CAUTION: Disconnect the battery ground cable.

1. Note: Do not remove the upper timing belt cover.

Undo the bolts in the upper timing belt cover.

CAUTION: Do not pull the spark plug connectors by the cable when removing them. If necessary pull off the ignition leads from the ignition coils to prevent kinking the cables. Slightly twist the spark plug connectors before removing them in order to loosen the seals.

CAUTION: Pull off each spark plug connector straight, in the direction the spark plug points (use Special Tool 303-106 for angled spark plug connectors).

1. Note: Loosening sequence: from the outside to the inside, working diagonally.

Remove the cylinder head cover.

1 Pull off the spark plug connectors.

2 Detach the crankcase ventilation hose.

3 Unscrew the 10 bolts.

1. CAUTION: Only rotate the engine on the crankshaft and in its rotation direction.

Set the engine to TDC on cylinder number 1.

1. Note: Note down each cylinder number and the valve clearances measured.

Measure the valve clearance using feeler gauges.

Permitted valve clearance: inlet (0.11 - 0.18 mm)

Permitted valve clearance: exhaust (0.27 - 0.34 mm)

1. CAUTION: Only rotate the engine on the crankshaft.

Measure the valve clearance (continued).

Rotate the engine a further 180 degrees on the crankshaft in its rotation direction. In this instance, the measuring sequence follows the firing order 1-3-4-2.

Repeat the previous steps for the other cylinders.

Note: Only carry out the following steps when the valve clearance must be adjusted.

1. Remove the camshafts.For additional information, refer to Camshaft in this Section..

Note: Aim to set the valve clearances to the middle of the range (inlet 0.15 mm; exhaust 0.30 mm)

1. Note: The number on the tappet indicates the tappet thickness.

Determine the tappet thickness required.

Remove the adjusting tappet and read the thickness from the back side.

Determine the tappet thickness required and insert the correct tappet.

Inlet valves: tappet thickness required = thickness of currently installed tappet + measured valve clearance - 0.15 mm.

Exhaust valves: tappet thickness required = thickness of currently installed tappet + measured valve clearance - 0.30 mm.

1. CAUTION: Set the piston on cylinder number 1 to approximately 25 mm before TDC.

Install the camshafts and camshaft timing belts.For additional information, refer to Camshaft in this Section..

Note: Do not attach the timing belt until the setting is in order.

1. Note: Turn the camshaft to measure the valve clearance.

Recheck the valve clearance after adjustment is complete.

1. Install the timing belt.For additional information, refer to Timing Belt in this Section..

1. CAUTION: Use a blunt object (a plastic cable tie) to apply the silicone grease, to avoid damaging the spark plug connector.

CAUTION: Slide on the spark plug connector keeping it in line with the spark plug.

Note: Apply silicone grease to the inside of the spark plug connector to a depth of 5-10 mm.

Install the cylinder head cover.

Insert the 10 bolts and tighten them in two stages.

Stage 1: 2 Nm.

Stage 2: 7 Nm.

Attach the crankcase ventilation hose.

Fit the spark plug connectors and make sure that they engage correctly.

1. Note: Check that the gasket on the upper timing belt cover is seated correctly and adjust if necessary.

Install the upper timing belt cover.

1. Connect the battery ground cable.

Carry out a road test to enable the PCM to collect data.

1. Check the fluid levels and adjust if necessary.

1. Check that the vacuum hoses and cables are routed correctly and fix in place using cable ties.