I have a 1998 Escort ZX2 with the 2.0. When I turn the engine over there is a clicking nosie on the passenger-side engine area. After investigating, I have found that the very buttom pulley on the engine is heavily rusted and corroded and it is spinning intermitteningly as the belt goes around the rest of the pulley's. I just got this car 2 months ago and the noise just started this week. Can anyone give me some thoughts about what needs to be done to fix this? Also can anyone give me a diagram with the names of each pulley? Thanks in advance.

Chinny

 

Sounds to me like you are talking about the A/C compressor. In that case, it would be normal for the clicking noise. So first question would be.... Does this car have air conditioning?

 

The car does have air conditioning but this nosie is way too loud for it to be normal. What I did find out is that on my engine, the pulley I am refering to is the A/C compressor pulley. And from what I read, there is a clutch of some sort on this pulley and what is making the noise is the clutch itself. However this is what I can figure out from the Haynes book and from reading other articles that are found on this site.

Does this make sense at all??? I don't know if I am correct or not, I am still trying confirm it. But anyother comments on this?? Is the A/C compressor clutch known to fail like this??

Vehicle:
1998 Ford Escort ZX2
2.0L DOHC 16v Zetec w/AC
Automatic

 

I have a 1999 ZX2 w/ auto trans and A/C. had bad vibration, noise. While checking,. noticed that the clutch plate on front of AC unit was just flopping around. It should have had rubber vibration dampers, they were gone. I ordered a new one over internet ($28 on EBAY) , replaced it and its great. This plate is only held on by one 8mm bolt, when you take it off watch out for little washers (spacers) put the same number back in as you take out, check the air gap between plate and clutch, should be about the thickness of a sheet of paper, the plate should not rub when spun but should retract when ac engages. Go on Youtube, several how-to videos on this.