# Broken Connecting Rod

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [July 31, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464 "2007-07-31T20:25:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![menchaca2005](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@menchaca2005](https://community.cartalk.com/u/menchaca2005)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/1 "2007-07-31T20:25:13Z")

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I have a possible broken connecting rod in my engine, the car starts and idles but there is a hideous knocking sound in the lower enging, how much would it be to fix it or would i be better off getting a new engine? my car is a 2001 Ford Focus with about 80,000 miles on it

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/2 "2007-07-31T23:43:11Z")

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The estimate can vary wildly and without a teardown and inspection it’s near impossible to guess.

It’s possible a reground crankshaft and bearing set could fix it or it may need an entire new engine.  
Much depends on if you bought the car new/used, how regular are the oil changes, any overheating spells, etc.  
If the engine is knocking this badly with only 80k miles then that generally points to a driver caused problem; lack of reg. oil changes, running the engine low or out of oil, etc.

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**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/3 "2007-07-31T23:44:24Z")

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It may be about to be thrown. At his point, your looking at a new engine or a rebuild.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 11:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/4 "2007-07-31T23:55:32Z")

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What year is it? You might be best off if you can find an engine in a low-mileage wreck. There are quite a few Foci out there so there must be quite a few dead ones. Until you check, you never know what the market price of a used engine is going to be.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 2:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/5 "2007-08-01T02:41:14Z")

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Until you have a real mechanic look/listen to your car, you are just guessing as what is wrong with it…

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-connecting-rod/2464/6 "2007-08-01T13:37:52Z")

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I agree. Get a real diagnosis not a guess. It could be something simple like an alternator.