I need to replace the drive belt on my 98 Ford Escort ZX2 manual transmission and need a diagram and to know where the tensioner is located. It is a single belt.

The picture is for a zetec. Let me know if wrong diagram?

Here it is. 13mm wrench to rotate tensioner

The tensioner is between the a/c compressor and crank pulley, below the power steering pump. Use a 13 mm wrench to 'tighten' the bolt in the center of the pulley and it'll move to release tension off the belt.

CLICK HERE
for diagrams based on your installed accessories.

Thanks for using FixYa - a 4 THUMBS rating is appreciated for answering your FREE question.

1) Start with the alternator.
2) Forward to the smooth idler
3) Forward to power steering
4) Down to A/C compressor
5) Back to crank pulley
6) Forward around tensioner
7) Back glancing off of water pump
8) Back glancing off of ribbed idler
9) Up around alternator (where you started)
Good luck!

This information can be found at www.serpentinebeltdiagram.com
They have all the belt routing info for any vehicle with a serpentine belt.
Hope this helps....

On the right side of the pulleys, there should be 3 top, middle, and bottom. The middle, smaller one, is the tensioner.

go to gates.com and click the link on the left that says Part Locator & Interchange, put in your car info then look down the page and click the camera next to the serpintine belt. These belts are not usually hard to change, the tensioner pulley should have a 3/8" square drive hole in it to release the tension, I always start at the crankshaft and loop around leaving the tensioner for last, hope this helps, let me know

2.0L Engines
See Figures 11, 12 and 13
The accessory drive belt for 2.0L engines has no provision for manual belt adjustment, since these engines use an automatic belt tensioner. Drive belt slack is taken up by the automatic tensioner.
Movement of the automatic tensioner assembly during engine operation is not a sign of a malfunctioning tensioner. This movement is the tensioner self-adjusting and is required to maintain constant belt tension.
The belt tensioner has a belt length indicator. If the indicator marks are not between the MIN and MAX marks, the belt must be replaced.
Fig. 11: Drive belt routing-2.0L SOHC engine with A/C Fig. 12: Drive belt routing-2.0L SOHC engine without A/C Fig. 13: Drive belt routing-2.0L DOHC engine

2.0L Engines
See Figures 11, 12 and 13
The accessory drive belt for 2.0L engines has no provision for manual belt adjustment, since these engines use an automatic belt tensioner. Drive belt slack is taken up by the automatic tensioner.
Movement of the automatic tensioner assembly during engine operation is not a sign of a malfunctioning tensioner. This movement is the tensioner self-adjusting and is required to maintain constant belt tension.
The belt tensioner has a belt length indicator. If the indicator marks are not between the MIN and MAX marks, the belt must be replaced.
Fig. 11: Drive belt routing-2.0L SOHC engine with A/C Fig. 12: Drive belt routing-2.0L SOHC engine without A/C Fig. 13: Drive belt routing-2.0L DOHC engine