Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance Camshaft damper question on timing belt replace.

Hi Everyone,
This is my first post on this Ford forum. Have a question on replacement of a timing belt on a 1998 Mercury Mystere 2.0 Zetec engine. Engine appears to have some sort of oil filled camshaft damper on the exhaust cam. When I set up the engine at TDC and the cams are both setup with the guage correctly in the proper sequence...the engine is rotated clockwise twice, then the engine TDC and the cams should still line up fairly close or exactly. When I turn the engine over, the exhaust cam comes up off some. Car was set this same way when old belt, idlers, old tensioner was on and nothing disturbed yet. Car was really running great before. Appears this damper allows some movement. Is this normal with this type of engine? Anyone have any special advise on setup. Haynes book doesn't discuss or show any type of damper type camshaft gear....
Thanks, Duane Koss/Blue Springs, MO

The 98+ Zetecs are equipped with variable cam timing (VCT) on the exhaust cam... I would think that has something to do with it.

Thanks, Tom....
In spending some more time on it this afternoon, I see it is spring loaded and the hub is oil filled. Does anyone have anything on a procedure on setting up the timing belt with one of this hubs on the exhaust cam. When one sets up the engine for TDC and the intake cam using the metal tool on the end slots of the cams, the intake is correct but the exhaust is off somewhat.It is spring loaded and the cam moves back some. I suppose under load and under some speed, this spring action and oil damping allows the cam timing to correct. Any ideas...anyone? Thanks again Tom...

Duane Koss /Blue Springs, MO

The exhaust cam is retarded by oil pressure to the hyd. cylinder via the VCT solenoid. The exhaust cam is spring loaded to return to the fully advanced position. This is where the timing is set. If the cam does not return to the fully advanced position the cylinder is probably sticking.

Rogerm60 is 100% correct. The VCT mechanism is spring loaded in the fully advanced position with the engine off and no oil pressure. make sure the mechanism is fully advanced before you tighten the exhaust cam bolt. With the spark plugs removed the spring loading should keep the exh. cam gear in this position. If there is any slop in the system, your VCT mechanism may be failing.

Ok....I am back and still confused. I fired up the old Merc last night and it seemed to run ok. Took it for 4-6 mile run and it ran A-ok. Starts right up and is very peppy. Have many other problems with this 1998 Merc so after removing the tube between the box over the intake and the filter box, I now am "check engine light" land. I was trying to see where the power steering system was connected as I also have a fluid cooling line to replace. And the rear motor mount looks like dog---t. Previous owners really beat the crap out of this car in 4 years.
Anyway, I set up harmonic balancer to TDC and intake cam with tool, the exhaust was left out there advanced. I have worked on cars for 35 years now, having learning everything I could from my Chevrolet-Olds mechanic father but VCT is something new to deal this. I really need to see this in a manual to understand if I did the right setup or did I dick it up.. Thank you all for the advice...Duane / Blue Springs, MO....
PS. Am glad I did get the Merc running as my Z26 broke the serpertine belt tensioner when I started it up this morning so Merc was a running parts retrival car... You all have a great day tomorrow!

Are you talking about the big ridged tube the runs from the box on the engine to the MAF? If so then you removed the IAT sensor from the system(essentially) so the CPU will not like that at all. There is a small sensor plugged into the bottom of that tube that must be in the airflow path for the CPU to work right.