Which engines had timing BELTS?

[reginald fairfield]

I was unable to discover which Ranger engines have a timing belt in the tech library. I would guess the 2.0, am I right or wrong? Or is it a V6 that had timing belts? I am looking for an older Ranger, and want to avoid the engines with belts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

The 2.0 has a timing belt. The V-6 uses a timing chain.

 

[Southern3.0]

Any 4 cyl engine before 2001 had a timing belt, In '01 Ford switched to the Duratec 4 cylinder in the Rangers and they use a timing chain and all the V6's have a timing chain.

Why is having a timing belt so bad?

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

Why is having a timing belt so bad?

+1

$15 and an hour out of your day every 10 years or so really isnt that big of a deal...

 

[reginald fairfield]

So how hard is it to change the belt, if it is really no big deal?

 

[Kenneth S]

If your mechanically inclined it's not too hard, I have done so many of them over the years (on many different cars, and trucks) that I can put a new one on in around 20 minute's or so.

 

[reginald fairfield]

So it has a cover and everything, just like a chain?

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

The timing belt is covered just like a timing chain.

 

[cghstrojan08]

If you are good with studd like this, you will have no problem. I did mine earlier this week on my 2.5L. It was not that bad. Just make sure when you put the new belt on you do not have anything turn. I suggest counting the teeth on the old belt inbetween the pulleys so you know how many there need to be when you put the new one on. When we took my old one off, the crank turned on its own a little and if we did not count the teeth before hand we would have been screwed.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

the cover on a timing belt isnt like that of a chain. its just a plastic cover to keep crap from getting into the belt. the cover itself doesnt have any kind of seals or gaskets on it, unlike a chain cover. they are a sinch to remove and install.

the hardest part is getting the crank pulley and dampner off, as this usually requires a puller.

you dont really need to count the teeth on the belt (i never have ). just align the timing marks and put the belt on.

 

[domiNATE]

The 2.0 has a timing belt. The V-6 uses a timing chain.

The 2.3L also has timing Belts.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

as southern 3.0 said, any 4 banger before '01 has a timing belt.

 

[Mutant Pony]

I replaced one on the side of the expressway with nothing but hand tools.
I was on the way to wedding in which I was the best man. It was friday after 5:00. I was right under an overpass when it failed. I didn't have a spare belt, I thought I was screwed. I walked up to the pass road to find nothing but a bar. I walked into the bar and explained my problem to the bartender. He yelled across the bar "hey Charlie come here!" Charlie came over and the bartender said "tell him your story". Charlie said "I have a couple old Mustang IIs at my house if worst comes to worst but, let me make some phone calls". I sat at the bar and slowly drank a few colas. About an hour later he walked through the door with a brand new timing belt. It turns out that a friend in a near by city opened a parts store for him and got me a timing belt! Is that cool or what. I tried to pay him extra and he refused, He would only take the amount on the receipt. It was $14 and change. That was years ago though. About 20 minutes later I was flying down the expressway again.

 

[Wicked_Sludge]

ive been peoples good fortune that way before.

in cordova, i had been out toward the end of the highway playing around in the ranger. i was headed back into town after dark when i passed an old f150 I6 with the hood up (this was 20-some miles from town down a dead-end road, mind you). i vaguely knew the woman driving as the daughter of a guy that came into our shop regularly (you know, in a small town kind of way). the truck died while driving down the road and wouldnt fire up. after tinkering around with it for a few minutes i discovered the dizzy rotor had grenaded..so no spark. we piled into the ranger and headed into town. i opened up the napa i worked at, charged the rotor to her dads credit account, and headed back out to pop it on the truck for her.

kind of unrelated i suppose...but mutants story reminded me of it

 

[Mutant Pony]

Oh, I had that happen on my first Ranger. 2.8 w/duraspark. I was running my own shop and left to pick up parts. I turned a corner and the truck quit. I took me a few minutes to find the rotor problem. Everything was there but, the little rivot that held eveything together. I stole a screw out of the side of my CB, screwed it in place of the rivot. I think I still have that rotor somewhere in the garage.