Anyone have experiences with Ford Escorts?

[wvufootball 10+ year member]

I drive an 2002 escort zx2. I want to do the Big three, as i am running around 1300rms. So i bought everything to do it, go outside and take a look at my alt. I can't even find the positive post on it. It connects by a plastic clip, kind of like a harness. AND its on the opposite side of the alt and is directly under what looks to be the intake manifold ( i think) VERY hard to reach. What should i do?

Thanks for any help

Click to read more...

 

[jflash 10+ year member]

it has the same engine as the focus. try this.

http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=31

 

[W8 a minute 10+ year member]

IIRC that plastic clip is just a cover. Remove it and you'll see the nut underneath it.

Believe it or not this might be easier to do from underneath the vehicle. Or just pull the entire alternator, put the new wire on, and bolt the alt back in.

 

[Kriszilla 10+ year member]

I used to have a 2003 ZX-2 and forget about getting to it from the top unless you have the arms of a 3-year-old girl. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif Underneath is the best way to go.

As for power, I was pleasantly surprised with the stock electrical on the ZX-2. It ran my KX-700.5 (birth cert'd at 859 watts RMS) with no dimming at all, and that was with the main channels bridged and the sub channel running at 2 Ohm.

 

[CJW 10+ year member]

I own teamzx2.com

Me and clnzx2 over there have done a bit of wiring in the zx2. He now owns a focus.

The zx2 has close to the same engine as the focus and that write up should mostly work... the legnths will be a littl off due to the alt and battery being on the opposite side of the motor.

The alt on the zx2 is kinda goofy. It is a pain in the *** to get to and in order to do the big 3 you have to break the plastic shielding to fit the bigger gauge wire and ring terminal.

Honestly it is easier if you just take the alt out to do the postive post modification. You don't want to break the post off but you do need to cut the little ears off. The 3 bolts holding the alt on are 12 mm I believe and the bottom bolt closest to the fender is the worst to get to. I snake a bunch of extensions under the ac lines with a knuckle on the end to get it.

before you mess with the stock wire you will want to remove your terminal from yoru battery for safety. The nut holding the positive wire to the alt is a 10mm i believe. Then you have to undo 2 clips just to the side of the positive post.

I can help you with more details if you need it then. Feel free to join my site and ask questions about how to remove it or need other help with your car. Regardless let me know if you need help. Later

-CJ

 

[audiobahnuser18 5,000+ posts]

It should be underneath the alt you will see a bolt to where would be //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif.

 

[CJW 10+ year member]

Yea its on the backside towards the bottom. The clips are off to the side of that if you are removing it. If not then just be careful with the post because there isnt much room for a bigger ring terminal

 

[wvufootball 10+ year member]

Thanks for the help! I will try and take it out this weekend.

 

[Kriszilla 10+ year member]

Ditto on what the previous person said about the size of the ring terminal. I ended up having to grind down the sides of mine, so make sure you have access to all the tools you'll need. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[wvufootball 10+ year member]

Should i go in through the bottom? or just take it out?

And will 4 guage be big enough for this?