VCTSolenoid - CEG Archives

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Hello,

I've been working on my stepmom's '98 Contour SE. It has the Zetec 2.0 liter in it. I'm trying to change the VCT Solenoid because it has gone bad. So I need to take the timing gear off the exhaust cam. I took the end plug out and there is a torx looking bolt, is that a bolt or is it the end of the cam. Does it all unbolt in one unit or is it springs and stuff inside the hub that is going to fly apart. I'm in dire need of help. Thanx for any help.

That is a bolt, I don't have vct though so I can't really answer those other questions. I would personally remove the vct and live with a CEL.

The bolt inside the cover just comes off. Then you can pull off the cam gear.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
That is a bolt, I don't have vct though so I can't really answer those other questions. I would personally remove the vct and live with a CEL.

"Removing" VCT will create a worse idle than the Zetec already has & since it takes the place of an EGR setup (which keeps combustion temps within manageable levels), you might be promoting earlier engine self destruction...my $.02.....

Originally posted by Steve:
Hello,

I've been working on my stepmom's '98 Contour SE. It has the Zetec 2.0 liter in it. I'm trying to change the VCT Solenoid because it has gone bad. So I need to take the timing gear off the exhaust cam. I took the end plug out and there is a torx looking bolt, is that a bolt or is it the end of the cam. Does it all unbolt in one unit or is it springs and stuff inside the hub that is going to fly apart. I'm in dire need of help. Thanx for any help.

The first thing you took off was just a plug. The bolt underneath is what holds it all together. It should be some funky-ass looking star pattern (like a reverse torx), but a normal socket will work - 5/8", I believe.

Of course you'll need to remove the intake timing gear as well, since there are two small bolts that hold the VCT solenoid to the head. You can't get to them w/out removing both timing gears.

The exhaust cam will also need to come out. The solenoid is a one-piece unit that fits over the cam. It can only be removed by slipping it off the end of a removed cam.

Obviously the big round section is what fits around the cam.

At the top of the 'canister' is the plug that sits at the top of the valve cover with the electrical connection.

See the three holes under the canister? The two outside holes are the two I mentioned that you remove from outside the head. The center is an oil-feed line. If you're removing VCT completely and not planning to put it back, I've heard it recommended you plug the corresponding hole in the head. The oil pressure may be too high exiting the line on the head and 'could' cause problems (this is all heresay, so you should investigate on your own as well).

I'm experimenting w/ removing VCT completely, but as mentioned already I haven't came up w/ a work-around for getting EGR functionality (unless the head is completely swapped, of course).

Originally posted by ABNeg:

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
That is a bolt, I don't have vct though so I can't really answer those other questions. I would personally remove the vct and live with a CEL.

"Removing" VCT will create a worse idle than the Zetec already has & since it takes the place of an EGR setup (which keeps combustion temps within manageable levels), you might be promoting earlier engine self destruction...my $.02.....

My idle is fine. VCT is not working (got adjustable cam gears).

Actually if im not mistaken, VCT was designed specificially to reduce emissions and have this beast burn cleaner. Now if you look at the 00-present focus they got the same engine w/o VCT. look at the VCT on the SVT focus, thats on the intake cam to boost performance... i think its safe to say taking VCT out wont hurt your car any

Hector how is your car working right wiht your VCT acting up? mY VCT is faulty and even tho my car is driving fine it's over advancing the timing and making it run lean(at least thats what the computer says everytime i scan the codes). Any other suggestions on what the problem could be? Sorry to hijack the thread.

Aaron

Hector's VCT isn't acting up, because hector doesn't really have VCT anymore.

Well my car is not running lean...I just have a nice CEL.

I removed the VCT gear and installed both cam gears and my idle is good.

Only two problems so far. One is the car doesn't have the same kick when it went past 3500rpm. Eventually that will be fixed when I tune the gears for max power.

The second problem I've recently noticed is I'm starting to get some serious oil blow-by comming out from the rubber seal of the VCT solenoid. 10psi and hard WOT driving will do that but that's the first time I've seen oil come out there. Normally it comes out the crank case breather tube.

I'll need to keep my eye on that, but for non boosted engines it shouldn't be a problem.

Originally posted by LoCoZ:
Well my car is not running lean...I just have a nice CEL.

Shop said there is nothing wrong with my car.