The OEM (Ford) has not recommended a timing-belt replacement interval for the 1995 through 1997 Ford Contour 2.0 engine. Typical trade practice suggests that, as a precaution, the timing belt should be replaced every 60,000 miles as in all other similar engines, as timing belts tend to stretch. This engine has also been identified as a freewheeling engine in which a timing-belt failure is unlikely to cause major engine damage.
Remove the accessory drive belt. Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Remove the right front wheel and inner fender splash shield. Turn the crankshaft clockwise until the Number 1 cylinder is on top dead center and the timing marks on the crankshaft pulley are aligned at about the 5 o'clock position with the marker on the block.
Support the engine with the floor jack and remove the right-hand motor mount and the valve cover. Remove the crankshaft pulley bolt and the pulley. Remove the water pump pulley and the timing-belt covers. Install the camshaft alignment tool in the slots of the camshafts.
Loosen the tensioner bolts; using a suitable allen wrench, turn the tensioner away from the belt and lightly tighten the bolt. Remove the timing belt. Temporarily install the crankshaft pulley and make sure the timing marks line up.
Remove the crank pulley and install the new timing belt in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the crankshaft sprocket, then over the top of the camshaft. Keep the tension on the right side. Install the lower timing-belt cover and install the crankshaft pulley. Install the crankshaft bolt and torque to 89 foot-pounds.
Loosen the tensioner bolt and allow the tensioner to operate. Remove the camshaft alignment tool. Turn the crankshaft slowly two turns, and make sure the timing marks align. Torque the tensioner bolt to 30 foot-pounds of torque.
With the crankshaft alignment marks lined up, make sure that the camshaft alignment tool can be inserted into the cams. If slots are not aligned, use the sprocket holding tool to hold the sprockets and loosen the bolts. Tap each camshaft sprocket gently to loosen from taper. Turn the camshaft sprockets just slightly until the cam alignment tool can be inserted into the slots in the camshaft.
Make sure the crankshaft marks are aligned and torque the camshaft sprocket bolts to 53 foot-pounds of torque. Turn the crankshaft two more turns and make sure the camshaft tool can be inserted into the slots of the cams. Install all components in reverse order of removal.
