2000 Ford Puma Engine rebuild

Tiny
RRICHIE
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 FORD PUMA
  • 1.7L
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 50,000 MILES
3 years ago I took my Puma to my local garage to have the cam belt replaced because I know from experience the damage that can happen if it breaks. Yesterday I took the car to have a new clutch fitted, the garage called me to say that after fitting the clutch, they tried to start the car and it has no compression, however the cam belt is still intact and according to them some other fault has caused this.

The valves have been broken and need replacing at a cost of £600. My question is could they have done something when fitting the clutch that could have caused this?

Thank you
Wednesday, August 19th, 2015 AT 4:54 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
There is nothing in replacing a clutch that can affect the valve train, I find that this is most strange, a bent valve for what ever reason would not cause total loss of compression, I need to know exactly what has failed to start to try and understand what has gone wrong, any more info will be a great help.
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Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 AT 4:30 AM
Tiny
RRICHIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi
Thanks for your reply.
The garage fitted a new clutch and told me that the car would not start, the cam belt was intact and after inspecting the engine the valves were broken, he told me "these things sometimes happen". I am not a mechanic but I have a suspicion that they had maybe done something wrong when they fitted the cam belt a few years earlier (the car had been making a strange ticking sound).

I am picking the car up on Wednesday and will be demanding a full explanation and will have to pay for the rebuild because I need the car, however I find the whole story strange to say the least and will have to take the garage to court to reclaim my money.

Thank you
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Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 AT 5:08 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Well their explanation is far from convincing, these things definitely just don't happen. There is a lot more to this then they are letting on and you have every right to be suspicious, I would love to examine this first hand, but that is not possible. I would demand all parts replaced and have these inspected by an independent mechanic, this may come up with some explanation, please re post if you get any answers, good luck with this.
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Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 AT 6:02 AM
Tiny
RRICHIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Thank you again

I will post the explanation from the garage on Wednesday when I collect the car. As I said earlier I am not a mechanic, but I have a decent knowledge of how an engine works and as far as I know this cant just happen unless something upsets the timing and I just wanted it confirmed that in fitting the clutch (prising up the engine) they could have caused it to happen.

The car drove really well and then just lately every now and again when putting the foot down the engine would surge without power going to the wheels, I have driven a car with a clutch problem before and I thought it was something other than the clutch, however they insisted it was a clutch problem.

Should have mentioned before its an X reg 1.7 Ford puma, but I dont want to scrap it because it has only done 40,000 miles.

Thanks
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Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 AT 12:05 PM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Any news as yet?
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Thursday, August 27th, 2015 AT 2:38 PM
Tiny
RRICHIE
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi

Picked the car up and including the new clutch the bill came to  750. He said that the engine re-build alone would have come to  2500. I asked him what caused this to happen and his answer was " have no idea but I think that one of the valves was slightly bent causing the timing to go off"

He has also fitted a new timing belt kit and for some reason a new rocker cover.
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Friday, August 28th, 2015 AT 3:10 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Well that is just so much rubbish and just a cop out. Valves just don't bend, why did they decide to fit a timing belt and a rocker cover, well he must have broken that. Sounds like a shonky outfit that your well shod off. Hope you find a reliable work shop to help sort out your issues.
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Friday, August 28th, 2015 AT 3:26 AM

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