After having a lower idler disintegrate on my '98 Mystique Zetec 2.0 L VCT(see last post from DasPirate, we corresponded on the same issue before I was a member of contour.org) I replaced all idlers and tensioners with a Goodyear kit, plus a new timing belt. The old belt did not show signs of chafing on the edge, just was cut by debris so it got replaced. I am now on my second timing belt after 600 miles, as the belt seems to be riding on the edge of the cam gears and chafing on the plastic upper cover and perhaps on the vibration damper.
The first belt was literally shredding inside the cover after 600 miles, so I replaced it and found that there was some metal wear and a sharp edge on the inside face of the vibration damper. The only thing that I can think of that could cause this would be debis rubbing on the damper for a period of time before it worked between the belt and crank gear to finally throw the engine out of time. I turned the sharp edge off of the damper into a slightly rounded edge on a brake lathe, and polished it with emery paper before reinstalling.
I am now noticing that the new belt is showing some fuzziness on the edge, possibly just from the belt wearing to the coutour of the vibration damper edge since it rides to that side of the crank gear and on the edges of the upper cam gears. I did check the cam gear faces and they are on a plane with the crank gear, so it seems somewhat logical that they might ride that direction. I pulled the upper cover and saw that there were also a couple of rub spots on the inside of the cover. I modified the cover by cutting out this area both to avoid the rubbing and to make the cover easier to remove with the motor mount in place.Hopefully this will improve things, it looks like the belt is clear of the metal cover at idle, unless the belt shifts further at highway speeds.
What I am wondering at this point is whether some of the aftermarket idler kits are better than others as far as centering the timing belt on the cam gears. Has anyone had good or bad luck with the Goodyear kit? It seems that many use the Gates kit.
Also, any ideas on the belt riding to the outside edge of the gears? I've checked and redchecked the tension, used the revised tensiion setting instructions from Ford (the idler is the type with the notch and pointer).
Any help or comments would be appreciated! This is a car my daughter drives at college about 100 miles from home, so I am trying to keep an eye on things remotely so she doesn't run into problems. I put an inspection hole in the top of the plastic cover so that she can give me updates on the condition of the second belt!:shrug:
The first belt was literally shredding inside the cover after 600 miles, so I replaced it and found that there was some metal wear and a sharp edge on the inside face of the vibration damper. The only thing that I can think of that could cause this would be debis rubbing on the damper for a period of time before it worked between the belt and crank gear to finally throw the engine out of time. I turned the sharp edge off of the damper into a slightly rounded edge on a brake lathe, and polished it with emery paper before reinstalling.
I am now noticing that the new belt is showing some fuzziness on the edge, possibly just from the belt wearing to the coutour of the vibration damper edge since it rides to that side of the crank gear and on the edges of the upper cam gears. I did check the cam gear faces and they are on a plane with the crank gear, so it seems somewhat logical that they might ride that direction. I pulled the upper cover and saw that there were also a couple of rub spots on the inside of the cover. I modified the cover by cutting out this area both to avoid the rubbing and to make the cover easier to remove with the motor mount in place.Hopefully this will improve things, it looks like the belt is clear of the metal cover at idle, unless the belt shifts further at highway speeds.
What I am wondering at this point is whether some of the aftermarket idler kits are better than others as far as centering the timing belt on the cam gears. Has anyone had good or bad luck with the Goodyear kit? It seems that many use the Gates kit.
Also, any ideas on the belt riding to the outside edge of the gears? I've checked and redchecked the tension, used the revised tensiion setting instructions from Ford (the idler is the type with the notch and pointer).
Any help or comments would be appreciated! This is a car my daughter drives at college about 100 miles from home, so I am trying to keep an eye on things remotely so she doesn't run into problems. I put an inspection hole in the top of the plastic cover so that she can give me updates on the condition of the second belt!:shrug:
