Cylinder Head

Tiny
ZX2
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 FORD ESCORT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 157,000 MILES
How long does it take to remove and replace a cylinder head in a 2001 Ford escort zx2?
Monday, January 10th, 2011 AT 10:19 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,542 POSTS
It takes approximately 6 1/2 labor hours to remove and replace cylinder head / head gasket on your vehicle.
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Friday, February 4th, 2011 AT 9:01 PM
Tiny
JULIAN54
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  • 7 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD ESCORT
When the timing belt brakes is there a way to put the engine timing back without having to remove the cylinder head?

The car was only going 20mph when it broke, I have looked at doing it by removing the cylinder head but it is too big of a job for me.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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The head doesn't have to be removed to replace a timing belt but if the valve where damaged when the belt broke, the head will have to be removed to repair that damage. Some engine do damage and some do not. What is the 8th digit of your VIN#?
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRCRANKNWRENCH
  • MECHANIC
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It all depends if you bent a valve or not. You should put each cylinder at top dead center and do a compression test first. If all is well you don't have to remove the cylinder head. Just make sure you line up the number one cylinder to top dead center and then align the cam and crankshaft marks so everything is in alignment when you install the new belt. It is a good idea to turn the belt a few time and re-check that the timing marks are still in alignment.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JULIAN54
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  • 7 POSTS
It is B.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JULIAN54
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  • 7 POSTS
#DrCranknWrench how do you do a compression test and also how are you supposed to know when each cylinder is in the right place cause you can't see them?
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LINDAH1
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  • 2 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD ESCORT
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 120,000 MILES
I'm looking to buy the above-mentioned car. They had the head replaced about a year ago because it was "cracked." Would that repair have included valve repair/replacement if a valve seat had dropped? It's a common problem in this car (4th valve seat) and I want to know if it was likely fixed/replaced when the head was replaced. Thanks.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
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That should have come with the new head although I would never have replaced just the head on this car, usually when one cracks they continue to crack them best to replace entire engine
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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There is no VIN "B" Look at it again. It could be a "3" or a "P"
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LINDAH1
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Yikes, I'm such a dummy on car stuff. What causes a head to crack in the first place?
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JULIAN54
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It's defiantly b I counted to the 8th digit, we live in the uk does that make a difference?
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BLUELIGHTNIN6
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Cylinder head cracking has become more common as car manufacturers use mixed metals in their engines. Many vehicles, for example, have a solid cast iron engine block but an aluminum cylinder head. These two metals expand at different rates, and this can lead to cylinder head cracking.

The most common cause of cylinder head cracking is overheating. When a vehicle overheats, it puts stress on all of its metal components, including the cylinder head, which is often at the center of the heat. This can cause the head gasket to fail, which may lead to cylinder head cracking as the components warp and pressure begins to leak

Cylinder head cracking can also be caused by localized hot spots in the engine, which usually represent a failure in some portion of the cooling system
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
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Yes, that could make a difference. We don't have a "B" engine in the US so I have no info on it.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JULIAN54
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  • 7 POSTS
Ok, thank you for trying anyway
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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If you need directions for checking compression, check our homepage under the DIY section for directions.
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Saturday, August 31st, 2019 AT 3:16 PM (Merged)

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