MX-5 OC Forum

 Hi everyone.

The wifes car is a 2002 1.6 Zetec Focus. 67000miles.

As a precaution, two weeks ago changed the cambelt and tensioner as part of a kit. Work done by Ford dealer.

Two weeks and twenty miles later I have a problem.

Started car, drove approx 1 mile. Stopped car. Started the car again and then it appeared to stall.

Tried to start and only get clicking.

Engine warning light comes on.

Lights horn etc all work.

Called the RAC. Patrolman initially diagnoses either flooding or cambelt. I don't mention it has been recently done so as not to change his fault finding.

He diagnoses a cambelt / tensioner failure as when the car is in gear and pushed, the camshaft does not move.

The cambelt was still in position and I could see it with the top cover removed .

The problem is that the Ford garage that did the work say the cambelt is intact and the tensioner is okay.

They are doing further diagnosis.

As the belt does not drive the water pump, can anyone suggest a reason why the car does would not start.   

TIA

i had a 2001 1.6 and i thought the water pump is driven by the timing belt as mine went after i had the bloody belt done about 3 months later or its buried underneath and the timing belt had to be shifted out of the way to get it out . they are a pretty good trouble free motor . only other thing i had fail was the thermostat housing split , made of plastic ! easy enough to replace but could have been a major seize if not spotted! sorry i can be more specific if its a decent garage hopefully they will own up if its something they have done

cheers rog

 Hi todge,

It was the patrolman who told me that water pump was not conneted. I have not got the car back yet nor a diagnosis. I will post when I have some info.

Cheers

 I think I am being scammed. The dealer phoned today and said the engine turns over by hand therfore not seized. They suspect a valve is stuck and as such needed to remove the head, at a cost of approx £750 to remove and refit, not including resolving any faults.

If it was a stuck valve wouldn't it just run a bit rough on three cylinders and wouldn't the valve be viewable by just removing the rocker cover?

If the engine turns over by hand with no interference then this would not prevent the starter motor from working, stuck valve or not.

The water pump is driven by a separate accessory belt on the Zetec SE engines. Not that the water pump has any bearing on a starter motor that won't engage. The same serpentine belt drives the alternator, power steering pump and air con compressor (if fitted).

 If they think a valve has stuck as them to prove it and do a compression test on all cylinders, mind you I have just paid £750 for a new clutch in ST160 it has a dual mass flywheel. Just thought they may have set the timing a tooth out ??in the first place.I have known some engine's if they have been bumped started to jump the timing belt on start up.

Alan