The manufacturer recommends that the timing belt in 1999 through 2000 3.3 Mercury Villager engines be replaced at 105,000-mile intervals. This figure was arrived at after studying the service history on this engine. It is classified as a freewheeling engine where, in the event of a timing belt failure, it is unlikely that any engine damage would occur. The time to replace the timing belt for an experienced technician is 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Raise and support the vehicle on jack stands. Remove the air conditioning drive belt and drain the radiator. Remove the right wheel and the splashguard. Remove the accessory drive belts.
Using the crankshaft pulley remover tool #303-009-303-410, remove the crankshaft bolt and the pulley. Remove the water pump pulley and the timing belt lower cover bolts. Remove the upper radiator hose and the air conditioning idler pulley and bracket. Remove the coolant bypass hose. Remove the wiring harness from the upper timing belt cover and set it aside. Remove both timing belt covers and the belt guide washer on the crankshaft sprocket.
Temporarily install the crankshaft pulley bolt and turn the engine clockwise until the marks on the crankshaft sprocket at the 5 o'clock position lines up with the mark on the block. Check the camshaft sprockets and make sure the lines on the sprockets line up with their corresponding marks on the rear timing belt cover.
Loosen the tensioner nut and remove the timing belt. Make sure all the timing marks are lined up and proceed to install the new timing belt in a counterclockwise direction, starting with the right side of the crankshaft sprocket to the camshaft sprocket, keeping all the tension on this side away from the tensioner.
Insert an Allen wrench in the tensioner and turn the tensioner one turn clockwise and then three turns counterclockwise. Allow the tensioner to stabilize for a moment and then torque the tensioner bolt to 61 foot pounds of torque.
Turn the engine two rotations clockwise and recheck the timing marks. Install all components in reverse order of removal and torque the crankshaft bolt to 146 foot pounds of torque. Fill the cooling system.
