Replacing the Belts in a 2003 ZX2

When Ford introduced the new, rounder version of the Escort in the 1997 model year, it eliminated the popular GT trim level. After just a year, Ford realized its mistake and released a new high-performance trim level for the Escort and dubbed it the Escort ZX2. After the Escorts elimination after the 2000 model year, the ZX2 remained for three more model years. The 2001 through 2003 ZX2 didnt bear the Escort name, just its body. A single serpentine belt drives all of the 2003 ZX2s accessories and replacing it requires removing the engine splash shield for access.

Instructions

1

Loosen the lug nuts on the right-front wheel, using a ratchet and socket. Lift the front of the ZX2 with a floor jack and slide jack stands under its subframe. Lower the ZX2 onto the jack stands. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheel off its hub.

2

Remove the three bolts securing the upper part of the splash shield to the fender well and the three bolts securing the lower half of the splash shield to the subframe, using a ratchet and socket. Remove the two halves of the splash shield as a whole; do not remove the bolts joining both halves.

3

Draw a diagram of how the serpentine belt routes around all of the pulleys, using a pen and paper.

4

Find the belt tensioner between the water pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley on the belts routing path.

5

Place a ratchet and socket on the bolt in the center of the tensioner pulley and rotate the pulley clockwise to relieve the tension from the serpentine belt. Pull the belt off of all of the accessory pulleys.

6

Allow the pulley to rotate counterclockwise slowly until it reaches its resting position. Remove the ratchet and socket from the tensioner pulley.

7

Route the new serpentine belt over all of the accessory pulleys except the tensioner pulley, using the diagram you drew as your guide.

8

Rotate the tensioner pulley clockwise with a ratchet and socket, and line up the serpentine belt with the tensioner pulley. Allow the tensioner pulley to rotate clockwise slowly until it holds tension on the serpentine belt.

9

Reinstall the two halves of the slash shield as one assembly and hand-tighten the six retaining bolts. Snug the six bolts with a ratchet and socket.

10

Reinstall the right-front wheel on the ZX2's hub and hand-tighten the lug nuts. Raise the vehicle off the jack stands with a floor jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the lug nuts, in a crisscross pattern, to between 74 and 96 foot-pounds on alloy rims or between 66 to 87 foot-pounds if the ZX2 is equipped with steel wheels, using a torque wrench and socket.