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[Koomorph]

Strange one this – and not VX related - but general engine related - so thought I'd get some honest thoughts from the experienced mechanics on here:

A few days back my uncle's 1.8 (Zetec) Focus, Y reg, just stopped running while he was driving. It turned over – but wouldn’t fire or start and AA had to tow him back. AA checked spark and all was good.

Car still wouldn’t start following morning – but it turns over though – but without the “chug chug chug” firing sound you would expect to hear when a car is turning over – seems as if the starter is turning with a hummmmm… but engine not firing – despite AA confirming that there is a spark (in at least one of the plugs… he didn’t check the other).

Now – here’s the thing – I looked over it thinking it’s the cambelt maybe – but when the car is being turned over – the cams are turning and so is the cam belt – so the cams and belt are being driven by the crank and turning when the car is turned over… So I thought It couldn’t be the cambelt…    :-?

If the cambelt had gone – with the car being turned over by ignition – the cambelt wouldn’t turn would it??? …. Or if an idler or tensioner had failed, the belt wouldn’t turn over and turn the cams….. this is right isn’t it...?

Well he took it to Ford – and they said it’s the camblet!!!  How could this be if the belt is turning and driving the cams…? 

Want to get peoples opinions before my uncle has to shell out £700+ for a cambelt and rebuild job….. I think Ford are yanking his ankle…

What do people think - if the cambelt or tensioner or idler had gone - would the cambelt still turn and drive the cams....?? Surely it would be loose and not turning... unless the Zetec engine is somehow "adapts" if a tensioner fails....

Thanks everyone for any advice!

Raf

[Chris_H]

So how do you know the cams are turning?

On my Focus (1.6 Zetec) you can get at the belt by opening the cover on the RHS of the engine.  You can then feel for slack on the belt.  It could easily be jumping teeth on the cam sprockets.

[Koomorph]

Well I did take the plastic cambelt cover off and watched while he cranked the engine... and the cambelt was quite happily tuning the sprockets, not jumping etc....

[Chris_H]

Check the tension.  It only needs to have jumped once.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Yeh, could easily have jumped a few teeth on the crank, bent the valves and then happily spins at a higher speed due to no compression

[KillerWatt]

Not uncommon for the Zetec cambelt to jump a tooth or two if it hasn't been changed on time.

Ford guarantee the belt in that particular engine for 100,000 miles, however they don't offer a guarantee on the tensioners (which show visible signs of fatigue much earlier than 100K).

[Koomorph]

Yeh, thanks everyone - the slipped tooth scenario may well be the case here... ceratinly if it's not giving the normal "chug chug" compression noise when turning over...

I'll look into it some more.... but that is probably the case.

Thanks agian! 

[Chris_H]

Yeh, thanks everyone - the slipped tooth scenario may well be the case here... ceratinly if it's not giving the normal "chug chug" compression noise when turning over...

I'll look into it some more.... but that is probably the case.

Thanks agian! 

If you do, it may look like this....

and this...


Pricey

[I_want_an_Omega]

Not uncommon for the Zetec cambelt to jump a tooth or two if it hasn't been changed on time.

Ford guarantee the belt in that particular engine for 100,000 miles, however they don't offer a guarantee on the tensioners (which show visible signs of fatigue much earlier than 100K).

I'm in a real quandry with our Focus, a 54 reg TDci with 51k on.

Ford say 100k for the belt, but shrug their shoulders when I mention the tensioners. I've called 3 Ford dealers and a specialist who say 100k, but maybe 80k if you are feeling nervous. The cost of a replacement belt is virtually negligible compared to the tensioner change.

Comment guys?

Thanks

[KillerWatt]

I'm in a real quandry with our Focus, a 54 reg TDci with 51k on.

Ford say 100k for the belt, but shrug their shoulders when I mention the tensioners. I've called 3 Ford dealers and a specialist who say 100k, but maybe 80k if you are feeling nervous. The cost of a replacement belt is virtually negligible compared to the tensioner change.

Comment guys?

Thanks

When I did our old 2 litre Zetec belt at 82K, the tensioner was just starting to show signs of failing (faint fracture marks running from the centre outwards).

I'd say 60K if the car is used very little, or for short journeys - and 80K if it gets an average amount of use.

[Kevin Wood]

When I did our old 2 litre Zetec belt at 82K, the tensioner was just starting to show signs of failing (faint fracture marks running from the centre outwards).

I'd say 60K if the car is used very little, or for short journeys - and 80K if it gets an average amount of use.

Agreed. I think the 100k interval was probably fine for the Mondeo when used as a mile-muncher when that mileage was racked up quickly but the time limit (7 years if memory serves) is a little optimistic given the plastic idlers.

I think the engine that went in the Westfield had 82k and 6 years on it when I stripped it and, whilst serviceable, the idlers were about ready for a change IMHO.

It's due for a change again, thinking about it.

Kevin

[sparten]

just noticed do you think this 100,000 was in km not miles? just a thought

[I_want_an_Omega]

I'm in a real quandry with our Focus, a 54 reg TDci with 51k on.

Ford say 100k for the belt, but shrug their shoulders when I mention the tensioners. I've called 3 Ford dealers and a specialist who say 100k, but maybe 80k if you are feeling nervous. The cost of a replacement belt is virtually negligible compared to the tensioner change.

Comment guys?

Thanks

When I did our old 2 litre Zetec belt at 82K, the tensioner was just starting to show signs of failing (faint fracture marks running from the centre outwards).

I'd say 60K if the car is used very little, or for short journeys - and 80K if it gets an average amount of use.

Will probably get it done at next years service in that case, should have about 63k on by that time. Car is used for very mixed driving - sometimes only a few miles, other times 300 miles a day, but mainly sitting outside not getting any use from one week to the next.