I broke my timing belt last week. I have a '98 Escort w/a 2.0L 4 cyl. Engine. The shop where it got towed to says that it's an interference engine. First off, I called my nephew in NH who has been a mechanic for the past 18 years & he said it's not an interference model. I then checked out The world's most trusted name in belts, hoses & hydraulics | Gates Corporation (http://www.gates.com) for info, but the PDF file of their catalog said it wasn't an interference model, but on the ordering page, it said it was. I'm so confused. Either I'll spend $370 for the job or $900+ for it. At least the mechanic here will do a compression test to see if there's any problem w/engine damage, so I think he's trying to be honest. Somebody please help me get to the bottom of this??

I worked on a 99 escort and they said it wasn't a interference engine also, I put a head on it. The woman needed a belt and wouldn't replace it, called me 2 weeks later and she said that the engine was gone. That her pistons were busted. So I don't know.

Unfortunately this IS an interference engine. My engine's got 2 dead cylenders so off to the junkman it goes, possibly by the end of the week.

Hey sorry about that. But I was a little close with helping you. People told me it wasn't before too. But we found out it was later. Good luck