2001 Escort Timing Belt Broke? - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Sylvester57 · 10-24-2009, 07:21

My friends Escort lost power while driving. She had it towed to a garage where they told her the timing belt broke, and had engine damage, and was going to cost $2500 to fix. She is a college student and can't afford the repair. The engine will start and will run very roughly and makes a noise. It wont idle. Is it possible the engine would start with a broken timing belt? Just wondering if the problem could be something else; other than the timing belt.

**Bert** · 10-24-2009, 07:53

If the belt broke, it would not start. If it jumped timing due to the belt, it would run bad. I'd tow it to another shop. Tell them what it's doing and see what they say. Then tow it to them.

**R.S.LOGAN** · 10-24-2009, 15:21

As "rtg143" states car wont start with broken belt .Only thing I can think of is they fitted new belt and then started car which would run rough due to bent valves etc . (and cause further damage )Really need to get head off to assess damage , don't know how they can estimate repair otherwise .

FordMan59 · 10-24-2009, 17:08

The 1.9L and 2.0L engines in the Escorts are NON INTERFERENCE ENGINES meaning the pistons WILL NOT hit the valves if the timing belt breaks. I've had two timing belts break on my '88 Escort and all I did was realign the timing marks and put a new belt on it with no damage either time. If they did put a new belt on it and it's running rough it's possible they didn't get the timing marks lined up properly or if it's a crooked shop they may have done it intentionally to make you think there was considerable damage and all they would have to do for the $2500 is make a correction to the timing. I'd definitely have someone else take a look at it. If the timing belt is broken and hasn't been replaced the car WILL NOT start. Another thing that could have happened and is pretty common with the Escort is a dropped valve seat which would cause a loss in power and a rough running engine, but you would be hearing some terrible noise coming form the engine if a valve seat dropped. One way to tell if it's dropped a valve seat is remove the spark plugs and if the electrode on one of them is beat up then it's dropped a seat in that cylinder.

**R.S.LOGAN** · 10-25-2009, 14:56

Doesn't say what engine in car ? Probably wrong , but thought the 2.0L DOHC engine was an interference engine .

p.s
This seems to back up my thoughts 2001 Ford Escort timing belt

**jwko** · 10-25-2009, 20:27

Maybe they should have titled that INTERFERENCE ENGINES!

There are several on that list with chains...

**R.S.LOGAN** · 10-26-2009, 11:01

Seems to be a difference of opinion on this. According to them (if you punch in details ) it is an interference engine . Gates Part Locator & Interchange .!!!!!!!! Guess we will have to wait till poster gets back with update . Can't sleep at night wondering about this , not !!!!!!!!!

**jwko** · 10-26-2009, 12:56

Quote:

Seems to be a difference of opinion on this. According to them (if you punch in details ) it is an interference engine .

That's what it says. Apparently whoever wrote out that list was way off. I will remove it

FordMan59 · 10-26-2009, 18:11

There are several publications out that say the 1.9L and 2.0L SOHC engines are interference engines, burt as I stated before and have also know of several others having timing belts break on them without damage. I can't say for absolute certainty that the 2.0L DOHC engine is non interference, but I am pretty sure it is.