I have a 99 Excort ZX2 Sport with the 2.0 4 cyl Contour motor in the shop that has numerous timming belt problems. Shop says there is play in the crankshaft that is causing the problem. Any ideas.

no, it sounds like they don't know how to time a VCT motor. Never heard of "play in the crankshaft" they probably have the exhaust cam way off timing, and they're using "play in the crank" as a excuse.

What does your car do? bog tons untill you get up to the higher RPMs?

My contour did that, but its a NON-VCT motor, the intake cam was off 5 notches..

I have a 99 Excort ZX2 Sport with the 2.0 4 cyl Contour motor in the shop that has numerous timming belt problems. Shop says there is play in the crankshaft that is causing the problem. Any ideas. I went to the shop and the tech showed me if you
put a pri bar between the case and the timing wheel on the crank it will move in and out about 1/8 " and that is the amount of the grinding that is wearing away the timining belt.

there is no wheel on the crank(for the timing anyways), its a little "gear" that the timing belt connects to for the timing, the pulley is for the serpentine belt

I went to the shop and the tech showed me if you
put a pri bar between the case and the timing wheel on the crank it will move in and out about 1/8 " and that is the amount of the grinding that is wearing away the timining belt.

i think your thinking of the dampener pulley.