2000 Ford Escort ZX2 from North America - Comments

Transmission slips when cold in 2 gear.

I have had 3 Ford Escort ZX2 models and I Love Them! I will continue to drive them until they stop making them. They handle excellent and are very fast stock. They are also very easy to modify and are a cheap fix to most of the problems (but I am also a mechanic myself...). I would recommend a Ford Escort ZX2 to anyone. They are also very reliable.

You're a mechanic you say? So as a mechanic, I'm guessing you never had your 'reliable' timing belt go out on your car. You almost have to lift the engine about 3 inches to get at it. And when it does, plan on have having the heads machined, because one of those 16 'reliable' valves will for sure drop a bit... oh well have fun..

Timing belts can go in any car that has a timing belt. I am sorry you had a problem with yours. Deal with it.

This is a non-interference engine. Even with the timing belt broken the valves will not contact the pistons. Many automotive shops do not realize this and will tell you the valves are bent, then after they do the tear down and find that no valves are bent they still charge you and won't admit it. I've done a timing belt on both my ZX2's. One of them even broke while driving and I can assure you there was no valve damage. I also never had to lift the engine. The only way this could be easier to change is if it jumped out of the box and changed itself.

OK, so I have just been told that I need a new head in my ZX2. I don't know anything about vehicles. Are there specific questions I should be asking, because all I keep hearing is that it is at the machine shop being looked at. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I have a 99 ford escort zx2, the mechanic said the timing belt "jumped" and probably bent the valves, now I was told by a few people that that couldn't happen, so what do I believe, he wants over 2000 to fix it... help me...thanks..

My daughters 99 ZX2 2.0L DOHC had the timing belt changed 9 months ago at a local garage. Last week the car stalled while driving. Upon investigation I found that the bolt that holds on of the idler pulleys on the timing belt failed causing the belt to loosen and slip. The car was attempted to be restarted many times before I discovered the lack of a functioning timing belt. I got the motor apart and will be attempting to reinstall the belt. I will update my progress.

Any Questions

E-mail me at jchughes@gmail.com.

I just bought an escort ZX2 and just as winter started the heater stopped working. I took it to my high school auto shop and they said that everything that they could see and test was working good. The thermostat was good, there was hot water going in and out of the heater core, and all of the fuses were still good. I have been told that it could be the blend door, but I have no idea how to get to it or how to fix it. Any advice?

This is the second time the timing belt has come off in 3 months! What a pain!