98 Ford Contour GL Timing belt just replaced but?

eternal · 03-07-2008, 12:53 AM

I just replaced my timing belt, timing idle pulleys, etc last weekend. Since then i have droven it about 200 miles and then all of a sudden it just quit running. When i was checking under teh hood i noticed that the belt had shredded a little and there was a lot of fuzz coming out of where the timing belt was at. The car sounded like it wanted to turn over and start but would not start.

Any ideas?

MIke

eternal · 03-22-2008, 10:30 PM

I took everything back apart tonight and I have a question on something. Does anyone know that if all the tension pulleys for the timing belt have to be perfectly aligned? Out of the new ones I got, the bottom tension pulley(near the crank shaft) is more inward and doesn't stick out like the other tension pulley on top!

I tell u what, I just found out from a friend today that consumers reports said that the 98 Ford was the #1 on the list of not to buy. Does everything have these problems or is it just me and a few select others? lol

phantom_smack · 03-23-2008, 12:30 PM

I have had to replace the cam gears because of a belt walk of problem.I have seen a crank pulley problem where they put it on backwards or forgot a washer but its been awhile and I csnt recall.

eternal · 03-24-2008, 05:48 PM

Thanks for the advice. I'm thinking i might of left a washer or something off that might keep the belt in place. I went to the auto parts store today and looked at another tension pulley for the timing belt, and it was much bigger. what had happened, is once the belt was walking off, it put a lot of pressure on the side of the plastic wheel of that pulley and it melted/burned off about 1/4" or a little more from the outside edge! This is the pulley near the crank pulley. What are other ways that a belt could walk? Could it be if the belt wasn't tight enough, etc?

Thanks.

eternal · 03-28-2008, 12:19 PM

Ok, now i'm dazzled!!! The Kit I got for the tension pulley, etc etc didn't come with a spring and a retaining pin for the tension pulley. So that's why i didn't put any on, i have called up ford dealerships, etc and no-one can give me the answer i need. I cannot find out how or where i can get a spring and retaining pin for the tension pulley(it didn't come in the kit). Does anyone know how i can get this?

eternal · 04-10-2008, 11:44 PM

ok, it seems like the problem is fixed. I think the pulley kit they gave me for the timing belt was wrong. It seems to me, the bottom tension pulley wasn't inline with the belt, and the belt was hanging over it a little when i first installed it(probably gave me one for a different engine). so i replaced the pulleys(again) and the belt and have been driving it for 2 weeks(over 300 miles). I've been keeping a constant eye on the timing belt, and it's good! Thanks everyone for the help!