Terrible mpg's = new interest in old ideas.

[cloudasc]

The reason for the compressor turning on when you turn on the defroster is to prolong the life of the compressor on a/c equiped vehicles.

[mhmitszach]

Timing belt broke. =[

[theunchosen]

How are your valves?

If it's 4 valves per cylinder and they are all going to be replaced and if anything else is wrong its very likely cheaper to replace the entire engine if you can do that yourself.

The labor to do the valves will bite you and then its probably got 16 valves at 10-20 each.

If you can do it yourself I vote for a "new" engine. Then if or when something bites you in the future its likely you have spares parts(unless its valves)

[mhmitszach]

It's a non interference engine.

Just needs re timed and a new belt.

Even know a ford mechanic who is looking for work who we can probably get to do it cheaper than a shop.

[theunchosen]

I had a VW come in the other day with 5 valves per cylinder and every one of them was bent and had to be replaced(engine was in car at that point). It had alot of miles and the fix was much more expensive than the car.

[Tygen1]

The ZX2 is easy. Just make sure to replace the idler and tensioner also. You don't need Ford parts, but buy quality. Also, make sure to check your crank pulley. The '98's sometimes had trouble with the backing ring coming off the crank pulley and killing the timing belt.
I would encourage you to try it yourself, just follow the how on TeamZX2. Last one I did only took an hour and half. Shouldn't take you more than three hours if this is your first ever. There is also a how to video you can buy for the ZX2 timing belt.
This is also a great time to do your AC and PS delete. There is a great write up on TeamZX2 on how to De-power our rack. As far as the pulley situation, I gotta check it our to see if the two idlers need switched.
Get after it dude, I just did my third 40+ mpg tank in a row

[mhmitszach]

I had an ex ford mechanic do it for 100 dollars and he even replaced my valve cover gasket. So 160 total with parts. You couldn't have paid me 100 dollars to try it on my own.

I'm not sure what happened. But I filled up yesterday and some how it was only 34 mpg when it should've been 37, according to scan guage which has been spot on forever.

So now either because I've got my oil on plugs problem fixed and the car is re adjusting or just the scan gauge is off now. Scanguage is making it seem as though my gas mileage isn't going very well.

I'm just not being able to get as good of gas mileage for some reason. =[

[Tygen1]

Odd's are he unplugged your battery and that would have re-set your computer. I always get worse gas milage after re-seting the computer. Ask him and see if he did. Maybe he took it for a test drive without the scangauge turned on?

[mhmitszach]

Originally Posted by Tygen1

Odd's are he unplugged your battery and that would have re-set your computer. I always get worse gas milage after re-seting the computer. Ask him and see if he did. Maybe he took it for a test drive without the scangauge turned on?

I doubt he did, but who knows. And I was the one who turned the car back on. He didn't drive it at all.

Also, found out/saw that two of my cam pistons (?) are burnt and golden. They're not getting enough oil I guess. Although, that is the spot right where the oil was leaking out. So maybe that's all the problem was?

[mhmitszach]

Geeze. In town today and saw 3 zx2s. I looked at the odometer on the one , 301k miles with a manual transmission. The car was in better shape than mine!