Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Engine dead after hard acceleration

My ride is a 1996 zetec with manual transmission.

I was pulling out of the local walmart and gave it some gas (about 4k rpm) when the engine dies out. It made a very faint snapping sound in the engine bay and just slowly stalled out.

I got it pulled off to the side and tried to start it back up, the engine seems to be turning but will not start. There is a grinding noise coming from the top of the engine when the key is turned, seems to be in the vicinity of the belt that runs the cams (left side of engine).

I will be taking it to the shop tommorow but thought I would see if anyone can tell me what the damage might be from my description. It is already sounding expensive. Thanks.

WELCOME TO CEG!

Never fear my friend, your engine is not dead. though it is sleeping... You need to wake it up with A NEW TIMING BELT! Thats what the snapping noise was. Take off the timing belt cover on the left side of the engine (passenger side) and look to see if there is a belt on those two cam gears... if there isnt... or is MUCH slack, its time for a new timing belt and tensioners. I would also suggest having the mechaicn install a new water pump while they are in that area, since its in the same spot as the timing belt... shouldnt run you much more then $500 if you shop around a little.

How many miles are you at?

Thanks for the advice, I will pull off the cover in the morning and check the belt.

The car has about 97,000 miles on it and up to this point I have not had any problems with it since I purchased it about 50,000 miles back.

Welcome....and I hope you didn't have this happen....

http://www.contour.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=zetecperf&Number=728537&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1

I sure hope not.