# Ford Focus timing belt replacement **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [November 4, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719 "2023-11-04T23:16:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/1 "2023-11-04T23:16:36Z")
A magazine article on an early Ford Focus timing belt replacement says the first step is to set the crankshaft to TDC, then the two camshafts are held in the proper orientation by a special tool, a flat bar that is sized to fit channels of the end of the camshafts. The two channels presumably align horizontally with the horizontal bar. It then says if the channels are too low for the bar to reach, to turn the crankshaft 180 degrees. Apparently the channels are slightly offset from the camshaft center or rotation. Just curious about the 180 degree recommendation. Shouldn’t it say to rotate the crankshaft 360 degrees? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/2 "2023-11-04T23:17:46Z")
Yes, it should. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/3 "2023-11-04T23:21:08Z")
I know for a fact that the 1.9L “split port” engine used in early Ford Focus models is non-interference, and I have heard that the 2.0L “Zetec” is non-interference as well. If that is correct, then I’d save my money and skip the specialty tool, and just use a plastic zip tie to secure the camshafts to each other while changing the timing belt. Then once the new belt is installed, rotate the engine several rotations by hand to make sure it stays aligned. ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/4 "2023-11-05T01:49:58Z")
Or, it meant to say to rotate a _camshaft_ 180 degrees. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/5/f/5f7a86d8f7b866b43fe59ad66794fd002667582a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 6:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/5 "2023-11-05T06:48:52Z")
No, 180 was correct. If the slots lined up too low, you were at bottom dead center on the crank. ---
**Author:** ![Rainflurry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/cab0a1/32.png) [@Rainflurry](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rainflurry)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/6 "2023-11-05T13:25:14Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > No, 180 was correct. If the slots lined up too low, you were at bottom dead center on the crank. The instructions were to put the crankshaft at TDC. That gives you a 50/50 shot of having the slots in the end of the cams be in the up position where the alignment tool can fit. If they are in the down position, you need to rotate the crank 360 (as @Mustangman said) or rotate the camshafts 180. The camshafts turn 180 for each 360 turn of the crankshaft. I’m guessing they meant to say rotate the camshafts 180 since that is easier and you can see the slots line up. In any case, you should have never had the crank at BDC. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/7 "2023-11-05T13:44:31Z")
> [@bcohen2010](#): > > I’d save my money and skip the specialty tool Considering it looks like a flat bar of steel, I think you could whip one up in a flash! ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 4:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/8 "2023-11-05T16:32:32Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > Considering it looks like a flat bar of steel, I think you could whip one up in a flash! A Snap On long handle 11mm combo wrench serves the purpose just fine for that job. Trust me. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-focus-timing-belt-replacement/193719/9 "2023-11-05T21:08:17Z")
> [@Rainflurry](#): > > Or, it meant to say to rotate a _camshaft_ 180 degrees. Yes, I expect it was a typo, meant rotate camshaft 180 deg. It’s not really possible to rotate the camshaft directly, has to be done by rotating the crankshaft, and the timing belt drags the camshaft along. The article doesn’t actually say to “rotate the crankshaft.” It says to “rotate the crank 180 deg”. UK publication, so maybe “crank” has an alternate meaning. > [@Mustangman](#): > > Considering it looks like a flat bar of steel, I think you could whip one up in a flash! It’s not configured exactly as shown in the simplified diagram above. Google Laser tools p/n 3096 for a photo. Good discussion in any event. Proves the diy’er has to be careful to not always accept technical information at face value. In this case, doesn’t seem much of a problem, the diy’er would find themselves stymied is all.