Originally posted by Obsidian:
Thats about the time most timing belts/chains go out from what I hear. I replaced my belt at 83,000 and water pump too. Got one with the metal impeller.
On another note, sorry about your car. I got a 95 too but I have the four. Great cars to have such big problems.
Timing BELTS may fail at around those mileages, but usually not chains (although it's not impossible). It may be that the chain tensioner for the right bank crapped out (a concern on early 2.5L engines, I think it was fixed in '96 & later years) and the chain is flopping around and jumped a couple of teeth on the sprockets.
There's an upgrade for the early Duratecs that changes the chain tensioner(s) configuration to one that is less prone to leak-down but it requires retrofitting later model valve timing components to the engine. Prolly not a warranty upgrade/fix either, not sure. There have been other threads here talking about cold start timing chain noises in '95 Duratecs, this failure may be related to that issue. It's also a problem in current 4.6L & 5.4L modular engines, not the failure, but the cold start-up noise. 
I sure hope that PranQster didn't do major damage to his engine. All that clattering can't be a good sign.
Kurt
Last edited by KurtD; 05/31/03 07:34 PM.
'95 Contour SE, MTX, Champagne
'03 EB Expedition, Med Wedgewood Blue
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