My car broke down 2 weeks ago it was recovered and taken to my local garage.
They looked at it for me and came back saying the cam belt had disintegrated and this had caused blockages in the oil return pipe, it therefore needed the oil pump and turbo replacing. I was quoted £1200 for this work and told it should be ready by the end of the week.
I have rung up to see if it’s ready today to be told when they have reversed it into the garage to put on the lift the cam belt has completely snapped and therefore ruined the engine, they havent come back with a cost yet, I understand it also might not now be worth the repair.
My question is was this unavoidable? As mechanics already knowing my cam belt was in a bad way should they have not been more careful driving it or is it just one of them things and they aren’t to blame?
The car is a 2012 Ford Focus eco boost and has done 68,000 miles.
The Ford 1.0L EcoBoost engine has a number of common problems, including:
Overheating
A major issue with the EcoBoost engine, overheating can be caused by coolant leaks, a faulty cooling system, or software issues. In some cases, overheating can lead to engine shutdown or require a new engine. To prevent overheating, you can check and top off the coolant level, use a quality coolant, or install a larger radiator.
Coolant leaks
Coolant leaks can be caused by a number of issues, including a failed cylinder head, which can crack or warp under pressure.
Turbocharger failure
The EcoBoost engine’s turbocharger can malfunction, or related components like the wastegate can cause issues.
Loss of engine power
High mileage EcoBoost engines can experience loss of engine power. This can be caused by a build-up of carbon on the intake valve stems, or fuel pressure problems.
Timing belt issues
Some owners have reported issues with the timing belt.
Oil pressure loss
Some EcoBoost engines have developed a reputation for losing oil pressure as early as 50,000 miles. This can be caused by a clogged oil pickup, which can be due to a crumbled Pump Drive belt.
Thanks for the info I agree it was over due the belt being replaced and could understand if it had gone I suppose what im more bothered about is the fact it was in a bad way but not enough that any damage to the engine had been done its through the garage driving it that the belt has then snapped and caused more extensive damage.
As Tester said should they have even switched the engine on knowing this?
I’m confused. If this statement is true, the internal engine damage had already occurred.
I question the shop your car was towed to, they stated the above, then indicated only the oil pump and turbo needed replacing. They do not sound competent.
Yes, will take quite a few Pounds to have your engine replaced.
I’m not sure that I understand the difference between the belt “disintegrating” and it snapping. When something disintegrates, it breaks apart, usually into small pieces.
I think its likely that the belt was very badly shredded because it was so old, and while it may still have been–technically–in one piece, it was in extremely bad condition. And, of course, that would mean that the engine should not have been started by the mechanic.
But, the fact that you ignored the vital replacement of this part until it became a situation of catastrophic failure makes it difficult from afar to figure out the exact sequence of events.
I agree with all that’s been said I know I should have replaced the belt sooner and I think if I had been told from the start it’s snapped and the engine therefore needs replacing rather than it was fixable as we’d brought it in before it had gone then I could accept that.
But its a bit harder to get my head around the fact further damage has happened as a result of the mechanic using the engine knowing how fragile the belt was.
I was driving when I noticed a rattling noise the car was still running but not at full power.
I pulled over and then got it recovered where it was then driven onto the back of the recovery truck and taken to the garage.
Once the garage recieved it and looked it over they came back with their initial diagnosis which was that the cam belt had started to disintegrate and this had caused blockages in the turbo oil return pipe the cost to fix £1200 and it should be done end of the week.
I rung today to be told that when they’ve turned the engine on to reverse it onto the lift to start the work the cam belt has then gone completely and caused the engine to fail. They have not yet quoted me again as they have said they are going to have to re-look to see the extent of the damage but it’s possibly a new engine and may not now be worth fixing.
Chances are that’s the moment that your engine was wrecked.
That engine has an “interference” design. If the cam belt (usually “timing belt” in the US - same thing) goes out of whack, it allows the valves to clash with the pistons. This bends the valves and wrecks the engine’s compression. They can be rebuilt, but that’s what gets crazy expensive.
Perhaps ask the shop if they can find a used engine out of a wrecked car at a junk yard of something. It’s often pretty affordable. If you do try that route - make sure it gets a new cam belt before being installed in the car!
There’s some known issues with the so-called “wet timing belt” engine configuration. Does your car use a wet timing belt?
Most timing belts are dry, not located in a sealed compartment & not lubed w/engine oil, like is done w/ a timing chain. ; a wet timing belt is lubed by the engine oil, and is locating inside a sealed timing belt compartment. This configuration can result in the belt’s rubber material breaking apart and the resultant particles plugging small oil passages.
Discussed in great depth in a recent issue of Car Mechanics.
Yes it’s a wet timing belt, they have told me today they have got in touch with a local scrap yard they use for a replacement engine then they can tell me a price.
I suppose my question really is are the garage at fault here?
They turned the engine on knowing how fragile it was is this something i should express i’m not happy about? Or do we just accept it’s one of those things the belt was in a bad way anyway it’s not their fault they turned the engine on then this happened?
It’s highly likely the engine was trashed before it even was delivered to the mechanic. The noises you mention, as well as the fact that you didn’t change the timing/cam belt at the required interval indicate this.
Not to sound harsh, but I think the blame/fault for this is primarily on you. I’d work with the mechanic to get a new to you/used engine installed, and move forward.
Do you know if they knew there was a problem with the timing belt before they tried starting the engine?
The engine was most likely running at the moment the timing belt actually broke. Do you know that the current engine damage did not happen as the engine’s rpms slowed to a stop?
You mentioned a disintegrated belt and blocked oil passages. Do you know that the belt didn’t begin to fray and disintegrate before it actually broke? And that some of those frayed pieces began to get into the oil passages before the engine actually quit?
The only thing I have to go off about the state of the engine when it arrived at the garage is what the mechanic told me - that they’d looked at it and it was fixable at £1200 if the belt had already snapped at this point I’m not sure why they didn’t say that.
Yes they did turn the engine on knowing the above and this is when they are telling me it has snapped this is the bit where i’m unsure if they are at fault as being mechanics they should have known not to start the engine?
The very 1st reply you where given answered your question, it has been answered several times since…
You have 3 choices here basically, 1) let them fix it… 2) Scrap the car… 3) Tow it to another shop for repairs…
Now, you can always try to compromise with them and do something like tell them you will pay the full price for the 1st est at 1200 and split the remaining amount, or pay for the engine and pay the 1st labor and they eat the remaining labor amount… or only pay the cost with no mark up on the engine…
But remember, that belt would have snapped on you if you would have driven it a few more feet…
Do they have to do anything about it, probably not, should they help you out for customer retention, probably yes…
If you decide to install a used engine, make dang sure you replace the timing belt at the same time…
It’s this very situation (ignoring timing belt change maintenance) that caused manufacturers to switch back to timing chains on most engines. Chains are good for the “life” of the engine. Most people just gas up and turn the key while leaving the shrink wrap on their owners manual.
