Ford Fiesta 2003 Cambelt Advise Please

heartbreak_star

Richard53 wrote: »

There, fixed that for you.

:T approve!

OP, do you have a local independent garage that would tow it to their workshop and fix it for you? I found one of these and they've saved my bacon more than once, better that than trying to fix it yourself and potentially doing more damage.

HBS x

Justiceforme

heartbreak_star wrote: »

:T approve!

OP, do you have a local independent garage that would tow it to their workshop and fix it for you? I found one of these and they've saved my bacon more than once, better that than trying to fix it yourself and potentially doing more damage.

HBS x

Hi thanks
Its a local independent garage that we have the quote from.
As already said they can't really identify what's really wrong until further investigation. I fairly sure a rescue service person would be able to tell if was a flat battery or another minor problem.
No, I would prefer not to spend this amount money on a car of this age, however I had a look around for something similar. Most of these cars have in excess of 120k miles on the clock and the same problem could occur again. Oh was thinking a selling the car just prior to this happening. Will have to see what happens.

Thanks for the advice from most of you with a few exceptions.
Perhaps I will be able to return a sarcastic remark to those of you when you are in need of help.

JustinR1979

So they don't know anything more?
Have they even mentioned the cambelt, or looked at it; or just diving straight in to a strip down?

StrongWork

Justiceforme wrote: »

I'm disabled?

I'm not sure. You're probably in a better position to tell us!

mattyprice4004

When was the cambelt last done? 10 years is part the life expectancy for most cars - usually the interval is between 4 and 7 years on most cars.

Justiceforme

JustinR1979 wrote: »

So they don't know anything more?
Have they even mentioned the cambelt, or looked at it; or just diving straight in to a strip down?

Yes, they have mentioned the cambelt, which was changed a few years ago. On ignition, the starter motor works but the engine will not start because the cambelt and camshaft is not turning.

They say they will have to remove the engine head in order to access the damage. They have already used an inspection camera and said the they can see some damage but don't how extensive it is.

Thanks

Justiceforme

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

When was the cambelt last done? 10 years is part the life expectancy for most cars - usually the interval is between 4 and 7 years on most cars.

Thanks

The cambelt was changed a few years ago, at about thirty five thousand miles. We did realise that is necessary. The car has now done just over 70 thousand miles.

Justiceforme

StrongWork wrote: »

I'm not sure. You're probably in a better position to tell us!

Hi can you explain what you are referring to?

pvt

Justiceforme wrote: »

Hi can you explain what you are referring to?

He's referring to the question mark you put after your comment about being disabled.

It really does sound from the description as though the camshaft belt is broken, there are very few other reasons why the engine will turn over and the camshaft not move.

The issue is why the belt has broken, It may be because it just wore out and failed, or maybe because the camshaft seized up.

If the engine turns and the camshaft doesn't, then the pistons can impact the valves - very nasty. Engines that this can happen on are called interference engines, hence the comment earlier about non-interference engines.

It would normally only require the removal of the camshaft cover, or even belt cover, to establish if the belt has broken and if the camshaft is seized.

HTH

JustinR1979

I'd see how much another engine plus fitting would cost.
If you say car is worth a grand, might be time to cut your losses, unless they still say £7-800 is achievable.