Does anyone know what happened to Ford??

[scoobyroo]

Word of warning! If you change the cambelt (or your local garage does more likely), make sure they change all the tensioner wheels as well. Belt had been changed on my prior to buying it, however the Cnuts who changed it didnt replace the wheels. Ford designed the bl***y things with a lightweight plastic surround that shatters into a million pieces and throws the belt. Mrs ILLKC was driving the kids to riding when the plastic shattered. The enging tried to continue for another 200 metres (rough as hell) before she turned a corner and good Zetec Engine became scrap!DT_Xtremez_25:

All engines can suffer from that. It is commonly known to have the timing belt changed, but not so about the idlers (wheels) and tensioners (keep the belt at correct tension). Whenever I do Timing belt jobs for people I always strongly reccomend the replacement of these as well as the belt, not to make more money (cause it takes no more time/labour) but because it is just as big a problem as the belt.
Never go for the cheaper option with that kind of job as it will only result in a very expensive option.DT_Xtremez_25:

 

[katinthehat]

My first two cars were both Mk II Escorts - the first in British racing Green too - and they were both loved dearly.
And how good it used to feel when my Dad used to pick me up from school on a Friday in his almost new Capri........ my Mother broke land speed records in that!!!!!

 

[scoobyroo]

My first two cars were both Mk II Escorts - the first in British racing Green too - and they were both loved dearly.
And how good it used to feel when my Dad used to pick me up from school on a Friday in his almost new Capri........ my Mother broke land speed records in that!!!!!

Would love a Mk1 or Mk11 but cant afford.....yetDT_Xtremez_28:
My mum used to have a Mk 111 Escort XR3i Cabriolet, awsome being picked up in that from school when I was 13 and weather was hotDT_Xtremez_17: Not so good when weather was poo......leaked like a sieve(or however you spell it)DT_Xtremez_14:

 

[I Look Like Kevin Costner]

All engines can suffer from that. It is commonly known to have the timing belt changed, but not so about the idlers (wheels) and tensioners (keep the belt at correct tension). Whenever I do Timing belt jobs for people I always strongly reccomend the replacement of these as well as the belt, not to make more money (cause it takes no more time/labour) but because it is just as big a problem as the belt.
Never go for the cheaper option with that kind of job as it will only result in a very expensive option.DT_Xtremez_25:

My previous two cars (Manta and Cav) had the GM LET engines. While probably not as efficent engines as the Zetec, they were designed so the valve hyd tappets gave way if the timing belt failed. Happened twice to my Cav (belts only had 35,000 mile life), however line up sprockets, release waterpump tensioner, new belt on, tension belt, job was a good one. The valves may have sightly marked the carbon on the pistons, and the valve lifers should have been replaced but the car went OK. Corrosion and massive loom failure signalled the end of the Cav, not a scrapped engine!

 

[scoobyroo]

My previous two cars (Manta and Cav) had the GM LET engines. While probably not as efficent engines as the Zetec, they were designed so the valve hyd tappets gave way if the timing belt failed. Happened twice to my Cav (belts only had 35,000 mile life), however line up sprockets, release waterpump tensioner, new belt on, tension belt, job was a good one. The valves may have sightly marked the carbon on the pistons, and the valve lifers should have been replaced but the car went OK. Corrosion and massive loom failure signalled the end of the Cav, not a scrapped engine!

Off Topic Those engines were known as "non interferance" engines, as the chance of internal damage due to piston-to-valve connection in the event of a timing belt failure, was very low. It was a good design and most GM 8 valve engines could get away with it. Sadly the invention of the 16V engine (or 4 Valves or more per cylinder) has largly eliminated the "non interferance" due to the valves having to open further.
Shame tho....... I was delighted when my Astra GTE dropped its belt and it only cost me 20 quid to fit a new one. Would be nice if they were still like that.DT_Xtremez_14: