How do I put the cams in time when there is no timing marks on the cam?

Question

On my 1999 ford escort zx2 there is no timing marks on the cams. I had to replace the belt but now I cant get it back in time.

Answer 1

There has to be some timing reference. Are you sure? They're usually just a little dimple. Is this a factory cam? I guess it's possible that a car may be keyed so precisely that a mark is not needed, but I've never seen it.  

Answer 2

you wont find a mark, it,s just a dot. after you get the new belt on right, you time it from the crank. when you get the timing mark on at the crank then the cam is timed also.

Answer 3

you must get repair instructions from all data the days when we could just dig in without reading are over i find on many cars that the engine could be damaged taking it apart some engines are interference fit that means that if the engine you are working on is an interference fit and the belt broke you must pull the head and replace the valves if it is an interference fit you cannot crank the engine over with the belt off if the valves are bent you will be wasting your time replacing the belt if the instructions say put the engine at top dead center on  number one on the compression stroke you have to do it before you remove the belt not after if it did not jump time you might be able to mark all the pulleys and the belt but some ford engines have variable timing and i got burned by one of them you must follow the instructions to the tee  

Answer 4

There will be a dot or a line scribed on the cam pulleys.  There will be a pointer on the front of the engine or line up the marks with the plane of the head.  Purchase a Haynes or Chilton's service manual for the correct procedure.

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Answer 5

The 2.0 DOHC has no timing marks, there are tools required to set that up. There is a flat plate of steel that slides into the back of the cams and a pin that goes thru the side of the block to hold the crank. I have a ford timing tool kit that cost 400 or so but maybe you can just buy the ones you need for less money. A service manual will have the directions and the part numbers for the tools required. Before I got the tool kit, I had made the tools to do this engine, if you have some fabrication skills you could easily make them. If it's a different engine then it does have marks and the manual will show you where to look.

Answer 6

I'm guessing that you have the 1.8L engine in your car , If so then you ,need to locate the marks on the camshaft pulley s. Look on the outside of the pulley's and on one of the arms that's running through the pulley will have a dot on it.you will aliign those dots up with the two center hole's that's on theseal plate,The seal plate is right behind the pulley's Looking at it from a side veiw ,you will see the two hole's on the seal plqate and the dots that's on the cam pulley.just align them straight up. For as the crank pulley goes align the timing belt pulley mark with the tension set mark,at approximately the 10 o' clock position .If you have all three of these marks aligned up right you sure be in buseness.

Answer 7

There should be a dot on the cam wheel and flywheel.Look closely.Assuming the belt didn't break you should have used chalk.Look at #1 cylinder tdc  intake stroke,intake valve should be opening on the down stroke  

Answer 8

This engine requires a few special tools to properly time the cams, a TDC timing peg tool and a camshaft aligning tool (a flat straight bar) that holds the cams in alignment at the rear of the head.

Check this repair procedure:

http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairG...