🔧 Escape - Timing Drive Inspection

Your Escape’s 2.0L EcoBoost engine does not use a timing belt. It uses an internal timing chain, which is designed to last much longer and is not a normal maintenance replacement item like a belt.

If you are hearing chain rattle, have cam/crank timing codes, poor running, or a no-start condition, timing chain service is an advanced repair that requires special Ford timing tools and careful engine timing setup.

Difficulty Level: Advanced | Estimated Time: 8-12 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Disconnect the negative battery cable before working near the starter, crank pulley, or front engine cover.
• ⚠️ Support the engine correctly before removing any engine mount parts.
• ⚠️ Never rotate the crankshaft or camshafts freely once the timing components are removed.
• ⚠️ Incorrect timing can cause severe engine damage.
• ⚠️ Let the engine cool completely before draining coolant or removing the front cover.
• ⚠️ This job involves RTV sealant. RTV is a liquid gasket maker that seals metal covers where no paper gasket is used.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• 1/4-inch drive ratchet
• 3/8-inch drive ratchet
• 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
• 1/2-inch drive torque wrench
• 3/8-inch drive torque wrench
• Metric socket set 7mm-21mm
• Metric wrench set 8mm-19mm
• E-Torx socket set E8-E18
• Torx bit set T25-T55
• 18mm socket
• 21mm socket
• Crankshaft pulley holding tool (specialty)
• Crankshaft pulley puller (specialty)
• Ford 2.0L EcoBoost camshaft holding tool (specialty)
• Ford 2.0L EcoBoost crankshaft timing pin (specialty)
• Engine support bar (specialty)
• Floor jack rated 3-ton minimum
• Jack stands rated 3-ton minimum
• Trim clip removal tool
• Plastic scraper
• Drain pan 10-quart minimum
• Coolant funnel kit
• Shop light
• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Timing chain kit - Qty: 1
• Timing chain tensioner - Qty: 1
• Timing chain guides - Qty: 1 set
• Crankshaft front seal - Qty: 1
• Front timing cover RTV sealant - Qty: 1
• Valve cover gasket set - Qty: 1
• Crankshaft pulley bolt - Qty: 1
• Engine mount bolts - Qty: 1 set
• Engine oil - Qty: 5.7 quarts
• Oil filter - Qty: 1
• Motorcraft orange-compatible coolant concentrate - Qty: 1 gallon
• Distilled water - Qty: 1 gallon

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park your Escape on level ground and let the engine cool fully.
• Set the parking brake and place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable using a 10mm socket.
• Raise the front of the vehicle with a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum and support it with jack stands rated 3-ton minimum.
• Remove the right front wheel area splash shields for access.
• Use an engine support bar before loosening the passenger-side engine mount. An engine support bar holds the engine from above so it does not drop when a mount is removed.
• Important: The timing chain must be installed with the crankshaft and camshafts locked in the correct position.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Confirm You Have a Timing Chain, Not a Belt

• Open the hood and locate the front engine cover on the passenger side of the engine.
• Your Escape has a sealed metal timing cover, not an exposed plastic timing belt cover.
• No routine timing belt replacement is required on this engine.
• If your goal is maintenance only, stop here. There is no timing belt service interval for your Escape.

Step 2: Disconnect Battery Power

• Use a 10mm socket to loosen the negative battery terminal clamp.
• Move the negative cable away from the battery post so it cannot spring back.
• Take a photo first.

Step 3: Raise and Support the Front

• Use a floor jack rated 3-ton minimum at the correct front jacking point.
• Place jack stands rated 3-ton minimum under the proper support points.
• Gently lower the vehicle onto the stands and shake the vehicle lightly to confirm it is stable.

Step 4: Remove Right Front Wheel and Shields

• Use a 21mm socket to remove the right front wheel lug nuts.
• Remove the right front wheel.
• Use a 7mm socket and trim clip removal tool to remove the splash shield fasteners.
• Set the shield and clips aside in order.

Step 5: Drain Engine Coolant and Engine Oil

• Place a drain pan 10-quart minimum under the radiator drain area.
• Open the coolant drain carefully and allow the coolant to drain.
• Move the drain pan 10-quart minimum under the oil drain plug.
• Use the correct metric socket from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm to remove the oil drain plug.
• Remove the oil filter using an appropriate oil filter wrench if needed.

Step 6: Remove Intake and Accessory Components

• Use a 7mm socket to loosen the intake tube clamps.
• Disconnect the intake tube and move it aside.
• Use the needed sockets from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm to remove brackets blocking the front cover.
• Label connectors and hoses with tape if needed.
• Photos prevent mistakes.

Step 7: Support the Engine

• Install the engine support bar across the upper body support points.
• Attach the support hook to the engine lifting point.
• Apply light tension only. Do not lift the vehicle with the engine support bar.

Step 8: Remove Passenger-Side Engine Mount

• Use the correct sockets from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm and E-Torx socket set E8-E18 to remove the passenger-side engine mount fasteners.
• Remove the mount and bracket as needed for access.
• Discard one-time-use engine mount bolts if supplied in your parts kit.
• During reassembly, tighten replacement mount bolts to Ford service specification from the service information supplied with the parts kit.

Step 9: Remove Accessory Drive Belt and Crank Pulley

• Use the correct wrench from your metric wrench set 8mm-19mm to rotate the belt tensioner.
• Slide the accessory belt off the pulleys.
• Use a crankshaft pulley holding tool and 18mm socket to loosen the crankshaft pulley bolt.
• Use a crankshaft pulley puller to remove the pulley if it does not slide off by hand.
• Do not pry against the timing cover.

Step 10: Remove Valve Cover

• Disconnect ignition coil connectors by hand.
• Use an 8mm socket to remove ignition coil bolts.
• Use the correct socket from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm to remove the valve cover bolts.
• Lift the valve cover straight up and remove the old gasket.

Step 11: Lock the Engine Timing

• Rotate the engine by hand using an 18mm socket on the crankshaft bolt location until cylinder 1 is at the correct timing position.
• Install the Ford 2.0L EcoBoost crankshaft timing pin.
• Install the Ford 2.0L EcoBoost camshaft holding tool on the camshafts.
• The camshaft holding tool keeps the camshafts from moving while the chain is removed.
• If the tools do not fit, do not force them. Recheck crankshaft position.

Step 12: Remove Front Timing Cover

• Use sockets from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm and Torx bit set T25-T55 to remove the timing cover bolts.
• Note bolt lengths and locations. Some bolts may be different lengths.
• Use a plastic scraper only at safe pry points to separate the cover.
• Do not gouge the aluminum sealing surfaces.

Step 13: Remove Timing Chain Components

• Confirm the Ford 2.0L EcoBoost camshaft holding tool and Ford 2.0L EcoBoost crankshaft timing pin are installed.
• Use the appropriate socket from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm to remove the timing chain tensioner.
• Remove the chain guides with the correct socket or Torx bit from your Torx bit set T25-T55.
• Remove the timing chain from the sprockets.
• Do not rotate the crankshaft or camshafts after chain removal.

Step 14: Install New Timing Chain, Guides, and Tensioner

• Install the new guides using the correct socket from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm.
• Fit the new timing chain over the crankshaft and camshaft sprockets with the timing marks aligned.
• Install the new tensioner using the correct socket from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm.
• Release the tensioner only after the chain is correctly seated.
• Use a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten guide and tensioner bolts to the specification supplied with the timing kit or Ford service data.

Step 15: Verify Timing Before Closing the Engine

• Remove the timing tools only after the chain is tensioned.
• Use an 18mm socket and 1/2-inch drive breaker bar to rotate the crankshaft clockwise by hand two full turns.
• Reinstall the Ford 2.0L EcoBoost crankshaft timing pin and Ford 2.0L EcoBoost camshaft holding tool.
• Both tools must fit correctly after rotation.
• If they do not fit, the timing is wrong. Do not start the engine.

Step 16: Clean and Reseal the Front Cover

• Use a plastic scraper to remove old RTV from the front cover and engine block.
• Wipe the sealing surfaces clean and dry.
• Install a new crankshaft front seal into the cover.
• Apply front timing cover RTV sealant in the correct bead pattern.
• Install the cover within the sealant working time listed on the RTV tube.

Step 17: Reinstall Front Cover, Valve Cover, and Pulley

• Use sockets from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm to install the front cover bolts by hand first.
• Use a 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the cover bolts evenly to Ford service specification.
• Install the valve cover with a new valve cover gasket set.
• Use an 8mm socket and 3/8-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the valve cover bolts evenly.
• Install the crankshaft pulley with a new crankshaft pulley bolt.
• Use a crankshaft pulley holding tool, 18mm socket, and 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten the crankshaft pulley bolt to Ford service specification.

Step 18: Reinstall Mount, Belt, Shields, and Wheel

• Use sockets from your metric socket set 7mm-21mm and E-Torx socket set E8-E18 to reinstall the engine mount and bracket.
• Use a 1/2-inch drive torque wrench to tighten engine mount bolts to Ford service specification.
• Use the correct wrench from your metric wrench set 8mm-19mm to rotate the belt tensioner and reinstall the accessory belt.
• Use a 7mm socket and trim clip removal tool to reinstall splash shields.
• Use a 21mm socket to reinstall the right front wheel.
• After lowering the vehicle, torque the wheel lug nuts to 135 Nm (100 ft-lbs).

Step 19: Refill Fluids and Reconnect Battery

• Install a new oil filter by hand until the gasket touches, then tighten as directed on the filter.
• Refill the engine with 5.7 quarts of correct engine oil.
• Use a coolant funnel kit to refill the cooling system with orange-compatible coolant mixed with distilled water.
• Use a 10mm socket to reconnect the negative battery cable.

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✅ After Repair

• Before starting, crank the engine briefly and listen for abnormal binding or metallic noise.
• Start the engine and let it idle. Watch for oil or coolant leaks.
• Let the engine reach operating temperature with the heater set to hot.
• Top off coolant after air bubbles purge from the system.
• Shut the engine off and recheck engine oil level after 5 minutes.
• If the check engine light comes on, scan for camshaft/crankshaft correlation codes before driving.
• Road test gently for 10-15 minutes, then inspect again for leaks.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $1,800-$3,200 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $350-$850 (parts only)

You Save: $1,000-$2,350 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 8-12 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

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