Mystery Clacking - Won't Run

[smokinZs]

I have a 2000 focus LX with your basic spi motor. It takes a shot of ether to turn it over and then clacks like a son of a bitch, almost sounds like the valves are hitting the pistons. I finally got this thing pulled apart and the timing all looks fine. Any ideas what this could be? Could it be a problem in a sensor or somewhere in the computer and how do I check for that? I am getting no codes from the scanner tool I paid $150.00 for. Any help would be appreciated.

[mark v]

Sounds like you got a blown engine!

[smokinZs]

Yep. The trick is figuring out why and how to fix it. It's a clean motor, head gaskets all fine and nothing stands out as being the specific perpetrator of this blown motor. Any more specific ideas?

[smokinZs]

I suppose what I really wanted to know is could it be a sensor problem? And how do I check the sensors? The scanner tool does not have a read out for faulty sensors that I can see, it just reads the data relayed by them. So if a crank shaft and/or timing sensor is sending faulty data could it cause the motor to run way out of time as it appears this one is doing? Which would be the most likely culprit?

[FORD_3.0]

Originally Posted by smokinZs

I suppose what I really wanted to know is could it be a sensor problem? And how do I check the sensors? The scanner tool does not have a read out for faulty sensors that I can see, it just reads the data relayed by them. So if a crank shaft and/or timing sensor is sending faulty data could it cause the motor to run way out of time as it appears this one is doing? Which would be the most likely culprit?

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[Dan.McCue]

Originally Posted by smokinZs

I have a 2000 focus LX with your basic spi motor. It takes a shot of ether to turn it over and then clacks like a son of a bitch, almost sounds like the valves are hitting the pistons. I finally got this thing pulled apart and the timing all looks fine. Any ideas what this could be? Could it be a problem in a sensor or somewhere in the computer and how do I check for that? I am getting no codes from the scanner tool I paid $150.00 for. Any help would be appreciated.

first off, a word of advise. never use ether in a car. u'll blow out the intake gaskets and cause further problems. if it's clacking really bad it could be because the crank bearings could have just blown apart. not good. change the oil and run ur hand in it while it drains. look for small metal peices. very very small. u'll feel them in ur hand. if u feel small peices of metal in ur hand it would be worth while to pull your oil pan and check for bigger peices of metal stuck in the pan or the pick up tube. this is just a sugestion. if it was gonna be a sensor i would check your camshaft position sensor. but u have no codes.. also it would be worth while to check the lifters. look for brocken springs and such. good luck.