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96 Contour timing belt shot #793570 11/11/03 04:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4 J John Fuller_dup1 OP Newbie
OP John Fuller_dup1 Newbie J Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	Last night my Contour's timing belt went out. The mechanic who looked at it says it needs replacement - which I can believe at 117K miles. However, the belt went out on me while the car was moving (at start-up speed). He's not an engine guy, but he said he thinks there is a high likelihood of bent valves, this being an OHC engine. I've had that happen on a vintage car before, but not on a modern one. Does anyone here know if this kind of damage is a possibility on this engine? I'd really like to know that before accepting some engine shop's word for it. Thanks.

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793571 11/11/03 05:00 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,360 TX L luvinmycontour Hard-core CEG'er
luvinmycontour Hard-core CEG'er L Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,360 TX	nope. zetecs are non interference. your valves are (most likely) fine. these engines are designed so that when the belt snaps, the engine just stops running (IIRC). also it mught have something to do with the shape of the head...not sure. tell your mechanic to put a new belt on and time it. then drive it out of his shop. Last edited by luvinmycontour; 11/11/03 05:06 PM.

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793572 11/11/03 06:22 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4 J John Fuller_dup1 OP Newbie
OP John Fuller_dup1 Newbie J Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	This could be the best news I've heard all week. Thanks.

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793573 11/11/03 09:10 PM
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 281 Tucson, Arizona S sk8token CEG\'er
sk8token CEG\'er S Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 281 Tucson, Arizona	Just wanted to add that my brothers car (Escort ZX2 also with a Zetec) recently lost a timing belt and engine is perfectly fine. I'm sure you're alright... arent u glad it isnt a Honda right about now? 96 Contour GL 2.0L MTX with Early SE 7 spoke wheels, SE sideskirts, Koni Sport Kit 70 Mustang Sportsroof with mild 351W and '01 Mustang GT wheels

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793574 11/12/03 01:50 AM
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,168 Poutine capital of Canada M mbb41_dup1 I am Canuckian
mbb41_dup1 I am Canuckian M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,168 Poutine capital of Canada	Originally posted by luvinmycontour: nope. zetecs are non interference. your valves are (most likely) fine. these engines are designed so that when the belt snaps, the engine just stops running (IIRC). also it mught have something to do with the shape of the head...not sure. tell your mechanic to put a new belt on and time it. then drive it out of his shop. Hate to break it to you but this is not entirley true. I know of at least one instance where the timing belt took out about a grand worth of repair work on its way out. Green 96 mystique gs 4cyl mtx 16.9 in the 1/4 mile @102500 miles 95SE in Midnight Red MTX MSDS headers and y-pipe SVT exhaust SVT UIM Optimized se TB. Full pre 98 SVT body kit 15.741 @ 87.73mph :)

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793575 11/12/03 05:12 PM
Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 17,248 IL L Loco4G63 CEG road warrior
Loco4G63 CEG road warrior L Joined: Aug 2001 Posts: 17,248 IL	Originally posted by mbb41: Originally posted by luvinmycontour: nope. zetecs are non interference. your valves are (most likely) fine. these engines are designed so that when the belt snaps, the engine just stops running (IIRC). also it mught have something to do with the shape of the head...not sure. tell your mechanic to put a new belt on and time it. then drive it out of his shop. Hate to break it to you but this is not entirley true. I know of at least one instance where the timing belt took out about a grand worth of repair work on its way out. He may have been ripped off. Steves car (bk4293) has had a broken timing belt twice. Hector 2003 Rally Red Mitsubishi Evolution VIII 257HP/259TQ 2005 Lapis Blue Mazda 6s RET: 00 Cabernet Red Ford Contour Zetec ATX SUPERCHARGED 160HP/141TQ

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793576 11/13/03 01:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 21 Long Island R RussL New CEG\'er
RussL New CEG\'er R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 21 Long Island	According to Autozone..... "The 2.0L engine is an interference motor. Extending the replacement interval could lead to the belt breaking and severe and costly engine damage..." Big problem if Autozone is correct. '95 Contour LX 54K miles '00 Giant NRS XTC1 First new car 1964 GTO

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793577 11/13/03 04:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,360 TX L luvinmycontour Hard-core CEG'er
luvinmycontour Hard-core CEG'er L Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,360 TX	the 2.0L is an interference motor...on the Ford Probes. the 1995-preset Zetec is a non interference motor.

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793578 11/14/03 07:58 AM
Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,168 Poutine capital of Canada M mbb41_dup1 I am Canuckian
mbb41_dup1 I am Canuckian M Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 4,168 Poutine capital of Canada	Originally posted by LoCoZ: Originally posted by mbb41: Originally posted by luvinmycontour: nope. zetecs are non interference. your valves are (most likely) fine. these engines are designed so that when the belt snaps, the engine just stops running (IIRC). also it mught have something to do with the shape of the head...not sure. tell your mechanic to put a new belt on and time it. then drive it out of his shop. Hate to break it to you but this is not entirley true. I know of at least one instance where the timing belt took out about a grand worth of repair work on its way out. He may have been ripped off. Steves car (bk4293) has had a broken timing belt twice. Well the mechanic whom worked on the car was a close freind. All I know is I won't take a chance and not change it after what I saw happen. Green 96 mystique gs 4cyl mtx 16.9 in the 1/4 mile @102500 miles 95SE in Midnight Red MTX MSDS headers and y-pipe SVT exhaust SVT UIM Optimized se TB. Full pre 98 SVT body kit 15.741 @ 87.73mph :)

Re: 96 Contour timing belt shot #793579 11/20/03 12:58 AM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4 J John Fuller_dup1 OP Newbie
OP John Fuller_dup1 Newbie J Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 4	Well, the engine appeared to run nicely going home from the shop with a new timing belt and, as it turned out, a new battery. The following morning (yesterday) it started to stall on start-up and ran really rough. Today I got the Check Engine light as well, so it's going back to find out what the heck is going on, I was hoping it was just that the new belt needed retensioning, but somehow I doubt it.

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