Failed Cam Belt

[DMH]

Evening all.

I have a 2002 1.7 Puma.
During the last drive, it lost all its coolant and the engine cut out.
When trying to start it, the engine turns over fast as if it has no compression.
Taking a peak behind the cam belt cover, the belt is there, but not turning.

Speaking with the local ford guy he says the water pump has gone and the Cam belt has shredded teeth and the valves will have been damaged.

I have spoken with some scrap dealers and no one wants it.

So, I was wondering what advice you would give about how hard it would be for a novice mechanic to strip the top off the engine and get it repaired.

I assume I will need to send the head away to a specialist, but am thinking about doing the stripping and re built myself.

Any thoughts comments appreciated?

Ian

 

[Frank]

Engine is not necessarily totally wrecked, but then again it might be. This is worth watching - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enPNb8dxCZk

 

[redexr]

It all depends on how attached you are to your car, but I'd be considering a good secondhand engine first and then possibly a complete car change. given the prices pumas have dropped to now you could probably find s decent one with a good service history and a recent ish Cambelt change.

If you're a mechanical novice then the puma 1.7 engine isn't an ideal engine to learn on as the Cambelt change itself is a bit of a pain.

 

[tuonokid]

As Redexr says.
Barry

 

[oilburner]

Another thing to consider is damage to the pistons from contacting the valves, unlikely but still possible

 

[DMH]

Thanks guys.
I think you have made up my mind.

Anyone want a Puma??
:grin:

Ian

 

[tuonokid]

Hi Ian
State your location.
Barry
PS the car will be worth much more with a running engine.

 

[DMH]

I am in Willington, just West of Durham.
DL15 0QX

 

[ElDude at Allison Automotive]

Interesting you headline - "failed cam belt"..

poor cam belt always gets the blame, when it hardly ever is.. :idea:

 

[redexr]

That's a good point El dude, this occasion is a good reminder not to avoid obvious additional work needed when fitting new cambelts.

 

[DMH]

I can only go by what the local garage said, and he restores old escorts and fiestas for a living, so I take his word.
He says shredded teeth.
That's a failed Cam belt, hence the title.
The root cause is not certain.

 

[redexr]

I've spent the last 25 years working on and rebuilding , welding, repairing mk1 and mk2 fiestas and compared with the puma they are so easy to work on. Having just stripped a puma clean I can't believe how much more complicated things have got .

 

[ElDude at Allison Automotive]

[post]352231[/post]
The root cause is not certain.

That's what I mean... the cambelt hasn't just failed... something else on the pulley system has gone or tensioner... which has caused this.. as you point out tho, at the end of it all the most obvious thing of course is that the belt is in bits

 

[DMH]

Another alternative would be to buy a used engine from a scapper, service it, change cam belt and swap.
Few on Ebay

Easier solution?

 

[tuonokid]

Buy one from Ian G on here then you'll get warranted mileage on it,
Barry