2000 focus timing belt broke.

Without doubt there will be some bent valves. That might be the limit of
the damage; piston damage is possible, but less likely.

Best bet is to remove the head and look. If everything except the valves
is OK, getting the head reconditioned at an engine rebuilder is the best
bet.

If you are looking at getting the whole job done at a garage, it may not
be cost effective to do on an 11-year old car.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

Whether or not there is valve damage depends upon
whether your engine is an interference or non-interference
type. Your dealer will be able to tell you.

In an interference engine the timing chain keeps the pistons
and the valves apart. If the chain breaks you've got a serious
problem.

In a non-interfering engine (usually with a timing belt instead
of a chain), the pistons and valves do not occupy the same space.
The belt simply keeps pistons and valves in sync. A belt failure
will stop the engine but will not cause additional damage.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_can_you_tell_an_interference_engine_on_a_Ford

http://tinyurl.com/kq2vkz

--
Don

[...]


There are very few OHC engines of the last 20 years that are not
interference ones.

AFAIK, the last Ford one was the Pinto from the 1970's.

It makes no difference whether the camshaft(s) is driven by belt, chain,
or gears. What makes an engine one that will self-destruct if the crank
turns and the cams don't is the combination of valve lift and piston-to-
valve clearances.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

My '75 Pinto, '82 Fairmont, '93 Topaz, and '04 Focus have all had
the same 2.3L engine. It's now aluminum and fuel-injected,
but it's the same block configuration.


Yes, as I said. Some Focus engines are interference and some
are non-interference. The OP should be able to Google his engine
model to identify which it is.

--
Don

[...]


I made the assumption that the OP was in Europe, where all Focus petrol
engines are interference. If in the USA, it does indeed vary by engine
type. Even the model year won't help, as different states used different
engines according to their environmental legislation.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.

The '75 Pinto engine had 2 valves per cylinder. The DOHC engine in the
Focus is a completely different design.

How does the timing chain keep the pistons and valves apart? Does it
form a film, like oil?

Engines with chains can be interference or non-interference, too.


That's true of interference engines, too, unless the belt breaks.


Unless there is a speeding 18-wheeler right behind you when the belt
breaks. Then it doesn't matter if it is interference or
non-interference. Rather, it will be like the car - flat.

On Mon, 23 May 2011 11:30:40 -0700, billyfgonzales22@msn.com (Billy


I assume you replaced the belt yourself. Are you absolutely certain
you got the timing marks lined up properly when you put the new belt
on?

Have you considered doing a compressing test on the cylinders?