[Decolliber]

does 97 Escort have an interference engine?
when should timing belt be replaced? 60K? 90K?

 

[Decolliber]

My wife´s 97 Escort has only 67K, so I guess I am safe for a while. Owner´s manual does not mention timing belt. Factory repair manual show how to replace but says nothing about how often; same with Chilton. Very strange that Ford makes no recommendation about replacing something that will wreck your engine if it breaks! Just had t-belt replaced on my daughter´s ´93 Escort (1.9L) at 107K.
Years ago I had t-belt replaced on ´83 Honda Accord at 60K because of reports of breakage before factory recommended replacement at 90K. Same thing with Audi: they used to recommend 90K on 12 valve A6s, now recommend 60K because of premature breakage (and the 12V A6 is an interference engine, as was the old Honda 1.6 liter). But at least Honda and Audi warn customers to get it replaced.

 

[Decolliber]

Called local Ford dealer and they said 97 engine is not interference, but they recommend t-belt change at 60K

 

[Decolliber]

Just found reference to t-belt in Chilton manual for 1991-1999 Escorts. Says that NONE have interference engines. Says Ford recommends change 1.8L engine t-belt at 60K but has no recommendation for 1.9 and 2.0 engines. Also says belt manufacturers recommend replacement between 45K and 90K; sooner if car used in stop & go traffic and idling for long periods.
Local Ford service manager told me my daughter´s ´93 1.9 Escort does have interference engine!
I had already booked wife´s ´97 Escort in for t-belt change (68K miles), and am now wondering if I should leave it for another 20K miles or so ...
At the Audi dealer a few weeks ago I saw a ´95 A6/100 getting a $3000 top end rebuild because timing belt had broken at 73K. So I have become a little obsessed with looking into timing belt service in my own cars!