Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance 4 cyl timing belt

Sorry guys, I think that tbunder has a point and so does tboner. I am cheap and with all the little fixes these cars need, I can't afford to throw down money on preventative maintenance. Then again if I was to go on another long trip, I would probably chicken out and replace the belt. I am glad we are at least agreeing that the belt won't cause any damage per say. But ya, I would hate for it to go out as I was pushing past a big rig. To each his own!!!

its been fun guys, but i think we've (or I) beat this thing to death. i love my cheap, underpowered, awesome handling, rare colored, not decontented, tachometer equipped, like new looking paint, cool directional oem aluminum wheel rolling, loaded up little portofino blue mystique. and until it hits 100K, i will not violate its virginity.

The manuals say they will meet.

And if they do, then you are gambling like $100 worth of difference in when you have it done, vs. more or less the cost of a whole engine.

One question, has there been anyone in these forums that had their belt break on them and when did it happen? (Well, actually two questions.)

I do know folks who had their 1.9L Escort's timing belt go at 80-100K miles.

Not a Ford, but an old 1st gen Integra I had popped its belt sitting at idle, and the damage done was around $800 worth, and that's with a family-friend mechanic saving me as much $$$ as he could. I REALLY don't want my Contour doing the same thing.

For the record my 95 Mystique has 96 thousand and it has the original timming belt on it. I will be honest and I push the car hard sometimes, the only thing I have noticed it the belt tapping the cover and a bearing making noice in the tensioner or something else somewhere. As for changing the belt, I do not know what i am going to do. For now it stays but 100 thousand sounds like a time to change it and that bearing that is making noice

Examine the belt and if it does not show signs of damage wait until 70K-75K miles for replacement.

My Mystique has 69 on it, and I do worry about it, but not sure what to do with it yet. My 95 Tracer's belt broke finally at 87k, big PITA, 3AM Sunday morning 80 some miles from home, but I do have AAA and was glad of that was 6AM before I got home.

I changed mine at 80K even though the belt looked new! Just freaking replace it, its called maintains! What?s the difference if you change it a few thousand miles later? Just change it...... Also this topic has been covered several times, use the search feature. No flames meant to be thrown here.

just updating you. my '97 mystique zetec in portofino blue (very cool color) now has about 98000 miles, and its still got the stock belt on it. still noisy at startup due to the cover rub, but still gets anywhere from 26-31 mpg depending where driven. just added a can of restore at last oil change. it doesn't burn a drop of oil either. at 100K i will change the belt, plugs, wires, rotor or whatever it has, tranny fluid, maybe a coolant flush. i love her. a downright cheap ride that's one of the most reliable cars i've owned. will cruise at 75 or 100 if called upon. good luck guys