Timing issue 2000 ford escort zx2. timed per instructions with alignment tools, rotated crank 2 revolutions and found the exhaust cam out about 5 degrees. loosened exhaust cam pulley re timed with alignment tools and rotated crank 2 revolutions and again found the exhaust cam out of positions about 5 dgrees. wondering if I have a bad exhaust cam vct pulley?

ford escort/ focus engine 2.0 l spi sohc 1997-2004 has been identified as an intereference engine and that means very likely valve to piston damage
( auto data timing belt information )
note-- up to 2002 year Ford has not recommended a timing belt interval for changing
Ford has however recommended a replacement every 120.000 miles using the service history as a guide
however good professional trade practice recommends every 60.000 miles ( 100.00klms) and the replacement work should include replacement of the crank and cam shaft seals and idler pulleys involved ( the biggest destroyer of belts is oil)
recommended labor time is 2 hours
if the belt has broken then head removal and valve work will add up to 5 hours to that time

There are no marks. You have to use a lock tool in the cams. Click on my profile and look at the how-to's I've written for instructions on replacing the timing belt on this car.

There is a Camshaft Alignment Timing Tool that is made to hold the cams and another one to find TDC on the crank.

It is normal for the exhaust cam to be slightly off during a rotation because of the nature of the VCT mechanisim. It uses oil pressure to change the cam angle. Since there is no oil pressure with the engine off, it won't stop in the same place every time. Check the links below for more information:

Timing Part 1

Timing Part 2

NOTE: Make sure the correct (second) notch in the pulley is indexed to the lower cylinder block (6010).
Position the crankshaft (6303) just prior to top dead center. Install the Camshaft Alignment Timing Tool on the back of the camshafts.

1. NOTE: Make sure the correct (second) notch in the pulley is indexed to the lower cylinder block (6010).
   Position the crankshaft (6303) just prior to top dead center.

2.Remove the bolt and install the top dead center timing peg
3 Rotate the crankshaft clockwise against the peg.
NOTE: Installation of the alignment tool into the exhaust camshaft (6250) may require the camshaft to be rotated clockwise.
Install the Camshaft Alignment Timing Tool on the back of the camshafts.

1. Install the intake timing sprocket and loosely install the bolt.

1. Rotate the oil control bushing one full turn and inspect for binding. Position the bushing with the single hole in the 12 o'clock position.

1. Install a new exhaust sprocket O-ring into the exhaust sprocket.
1. Install the exhaust camshaft sprocket. Make sure that the tab on the sprocket engages the hole previously positioned at 12 o'clock in the oil control solenoid bushing.
   • Loosely install the bolt.
   

1. Loosely install the timing chain tensioner.
1. Install the timing belt.
Engage the timing belt tensioner tab into the upper timing cover backplate.
Using a 6 mm Allen wrench, adjust the timing belt tensioner until the index marks are aligned. Tighten the bolt

1. CAUTION: The camshaft must be held stationary with an open-end wrench. Do not use the alignment tool to hold the camshaft in position or damage to the camshaft may occur.
   Tighten the bolt on the intake camshaft sprocket.

1. CAUTION: The camshaft must be held stationary with an open-end wrench. Do not use the alignment tool to hold the camshaft in position or damage to the camshaft may occur.
   Tighten the bolt on the exhaust camshaft sprocket in three steps.
   • Tighten the bolt to 50 Nm (36 lb-ft).
   • Remove the TDC peg and Camshaft Alignment Timing Tool.
   • Tighten the bolt to 115-125 Nm (85-92 lb-ft).
   

Install the VCT oil plug.

1. NOTE: Make sure the correct (second) notch in the pulley is indexed to the lower cylinder block.
   Position the crankshaft just prior to top dead center.
Remove the bolt and install the TDC peg. Rotate the crankshaft clockwise against the peg. NOTE: Installation of the alignment tool into the exhaust camshaft may require the camshaft to be rotated clockwise. If the alignment tool does not align and install in the camshafts, repeat Steps 1 through 17.
Install the Camshaft Alignment Timing Tool on the back of the camshafts.
1. Remove the alignment tool and TDC timing peg.
1. Install the bolt.

There are no marks on this one. There is a special tool set to align camshafts ($900). The best you can do is to bring #1 cyl to TDC compression with both cam(valve) covers off. #5 cyl should have lobes at equal opening, exhaust just closing and intake just opening.. #1 cyl cam lobes should each be diametrically opposed to the positions of #5. If cams need to be moved, there is no registration of gear onto cam. Just loosen bolt holding gear and move cam. Retighten bolt. Roll thru 2 crank revolutions and check cam timing again.Simple.

cam shaft timing marks on back of cams ,two slots ,use a flat piece of metal to align .remove no1 spark plug and drop long thin screwdriver down it to bring piston just below tdc,then align cams so both cams are on the rock (valves closed) with knob on back cam aligning with pick up sensor left side between lobes.then bring piston up to tdc and fit belt.turn engine over twice with socket on bottom pulley to make sure no valves clear pistons.Remember to remove flat edge from back of cams i didnt last time and bent my home made tool

you need this tool

OTC 6486 Ford Cam Tool Kit, 2.0L Zetec
Code:OTC6486
Price:

That is correct, there are marks.

a friend of mine set the crankshaft, it turns out that the key-way is on top and is the mark for the lower part. we looked in the haynes manual for the top cam-shaft's. we never had a cam-shaft alignment tool but found a scrap piece of metal that worked perfectly for the cam-shaft alignment. the timing belt is on one side of the engine and on the other side of the cam-shafts are slots where the cam-shaft alignment tool, you have a 25% chance of getting it right and we got lucky on the 1st try, thanx any way.