On my 2000 Ford escort zx2 keeps splitting belt

Two things needed for belt life are free turning pulleys and aligned pulleys.

yeah all the old ZX 2 sto usehave problems with the belt slipping I to know somebody that had that problem and they had to replace the idler pulley

My granddaughters 2.0 vcct 2001 just split her belt after 4 months of ownership. Tried everway but loose to remove the ribbed idler which is bad. It is rear idler under the alternator pulley. The bolt won't screw out do to interference with the fender well.No these answers are trite. Have you ever tried to replace the rear ribbed idler pulley??? PPPLLLEAASSEE tell me it can be done without raising the engine.

Don't know if you ever figured it out but to remove the ribbed idler pulley is pretty easy you just have to remove the alternator and alternator bracket remove bracket from engine bay then remove and replace pulley the pulley is mounted to the alternator bracket

Yes I removed it by using a hole cutter bit...drilled hole in fender well aligned with bolt and unscrewed it with a rachet and socket....filled the hole with a rubber plug from hardware store