Problems with a focus

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
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A friend took his focus to the dealership to get a new fuel pump, his last one was recalled. Well, they called to say his timing belt went out and now the car wouldn't run. It wouldn't start so we dragged it the 2 miles home.

Well, the other day he decided he needed to move it. He started it up and drove it across the parking lot. IMHO a timing belt going bad is an all or nothing thing, it's not going to suddenly work by sitting.

Am I right or is there a way that a timing belt could slip until it just happens to be timed correctly again?

He wants me to help replace the belt, but then went out and bought ONLY the belt. No gasket, no pulleys or tenioners, just the $4 belt. I really don't want to help him fix this only to find out it's a different problem and helping him fix that too.
 

Horsepower

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
963
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Usually you are right it's all or nothing. If the old belt has over 60k on it, it needs replacing anyway.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Originally posted by: Horsepower
Usually you are right it's all or nothing. If the old belt has over 60k on it, it needs replacing anyway.

It's got 100k on it. However I'd rather help him fix whatever is the real problem, not take him to the parts store to buy all the parts he forgot, spend my Saturday fixing it and then have to come back next week to fix the real problem.

I'm getting a bit grumpy with the guy. He doesn't have money for a mechanic or a tow truck but he has satellite radio in two vehicles, just bought new furniture and big screen TV, and eats out constantly. I don't have a problem helping friends in a bind but I expect them to be at least trying to get by on their own.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
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Well, I stand corrected. We popped off the top timing belt cover and about 1/4 of the belt's teeth were gone. My bet is it let the dual overhead cams to get out of sync, but then it just spun a bit enough that it got back into sync enough to run, albeit badly.
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
Well now you know it really is the belt that needs changing. And by all means get a new tensioner and you will of course, need all the gaskets for the job. FYI .. on some cars, the water pump comes off or is behind the cover, so depending on mileage / age of car, I would suggest a new water pump while you are in there as well as a coolant flush & refill. You may also need Valve cover gaskets.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Originally posted by: bruceb
Well now you know it really is the belt that needs changing. And by all means get a new tensioner and you will of course, need all the gaskets for the job. FYI .. on some cars, the water pump comes off or is behind the cover, so depending on mileage / age of car, I would suggest a new water pump while you are in there as well as a coolant flush & refill. You may also need Valve cover gaskets.

Unfortunately this is on a budget, the guy is hard up on money because he got out of bankruptcy and then immediately went into debt again. His excuse was that he was 'rebuilding his credit'. You can build credit without buying a 40" flatscreen TV, new furniture, and that sort of stuff.

I would say that him and his wife have dug their hole, but they have a new born. He's a cute kid, his parents are just being idiots.
 

AlienCraft

Lifer
Nov 23, 2002
10,539
0
0
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Well, I stand corrected. We popped off the top timing belt cover and about 1/4 of the belt's teeth were gone. My bet is it let the dual overhead cams to get out of sync, but then it just spun a bit enough that it got back into sync enough to run, albeit badly.
Did you guys pull the motor to do this or did you do it in the vehicle?
I can barely get my arms down there.

BTW, my timing belt went at 122,280 miles.

 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
8,874
111
106
I understand, he is on a budget. But a new water pump is only about $30 or so for most cars. And you will already have most of the parts that in the way to get to it, off the car. So if you don't change it and the motor accessory drive belt / belts, you may be
looking at additional time / labor costs a few months down, when these parts will fail. Better to change them while you can easily get to them.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Originally posted by: AlienCraft
Originally posted by: Bignate603
Well, I stand corrected. We popped off the top timing belt cover and about 1/4 of the belt's teeth were gone. My bet is it let the dual overhead cams to get out of sync, but then it just spun a bit enough that it got back into sync enough to run, albeit badly.
Did you guys pull the motor to do this or did you do it in the vehicle?
I can barely get my arms down there.

BTW, my timing belt went at 122,280 miles.

The engine is still in the vehicle. We had to get a bit creative to get it done but it went ok.
 

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
Originally posted by: bruceb
I understand, he is on a budget. But a new water pump is only about $30 or so for most cars. And you will already have most of the parts that in the way to get to it, off the car. So if you don't change it and the motor accessory drive belt / belts, you may be
looking at additional time / labor costs a few months down, when these parts will fail. Better to change them while you can easily get to them.

We did change the accessory belt. It was looking old and starting to crack a bit so I convinced him to do that.