Ford EscortFord Escort ZX2 is a hot-looking compact coupe with a rakish design. Yet its handsome interior reveals a roomy back seat and surprisingly large trunk. ZX2 provides responsive handling and good road manners and its engine delivers decent power. At the same time, the ZX2 is a practical car, with plenty of room in the back seats for friends.
I have an 01 ZX2 and have a nasty squeal coming from the camshaft area. I had a local mechanic look at it and say it was a bad idler tensioner and a bad pulley on the serpentine belt. He was wrong. I still have the squealing noise. It's not the belt, it was replaced at beginning of year.
It doesn't squeal right at startup, and it's an intermittent type squeal/high pitched noise. I had the hood up while it was making the squealing noise and took the engine oil cap off, the pressure released and the noise stopped altogether. I put the cap back on, and within a minute the noise was back. I have the actual Ford repair shop manual for the 01 escort, but not sure where to go from this point. I haven't taken the head apart yet, cuz it is my daily driver right now.
i dont know how the 2.0 is, but i know the taurus with the SOHC 3.0 uses the old distributor hole for a cam sensor and those make all kinds of noise that sounds like belt noise. so check out to see if your cam sensor is a hall effect or mechanically drivin
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BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
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I checked vacuum lines and checked the Crankshaft breather filter.. The breather filter was clogged and wasn't allowing any air in.. Replaced it for $10 and no noise!! Amazing how something so simple can fix a problem. I found the solution here:
I had the hood up while it was making the squealing noise and took the engine oil cap off, the pressure released and the noise stopped altogether. I put the cap back on, and within a minute the noise was back.
SWAG: Sounds like something to do with the PCV system (opening the oil cap releases pressure). Check/replace (theses parts are pretty inexpensive) the PCV valve, the hose and grommet.
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1998 E150 Club Wagon, 4.6L Modular, E4OD
2007 Milan. 3.0L Duratec, Aisin 6 speed AW-F21 others I look out for
2007 Escape 2wd (the mini Pumpkin), 3.0L Duratec, CD4E
2008 Mazda3 5 door, 2.3L, 5 speed manual
Glad you found the problem, and thanks for posting back the solution!
__________________
BroncoJoe19
2006 Alt Fuel Jeep (electric)
'98 windstar 3.8L
'99 Crown Vic 4.6L
'90 Full Size Bronco 5.0L
I'm not a professional mechanic, take my suggestions with a grain of salt, or a cup of coffee
At the bottom of each post there is a little icon
Clicking it gives feedback to the moderators, and poster regarding which posts are most helpful.
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Camshaft? squeal 
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