Engine Belts And Pulleys Problems of Ford Escort - part 1

The contact owns a 1999 Ford Escort. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. A local mechanic diagnosed that the timing belt was defective. In addition, the motor failed. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 93,083.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Escort 🔎.

1998 Ford Escort. The consumer took the vehicle to dealer to be serviced, and the service department noticed the rear coil springs were broken , approximately 1½ turns from the top. The consumer contacted Ford, and they told him the part was not under warranty. The coil springs were replaced. There had been no noticeable problems before this. The caplipers were replaced due them being frozen. The crank pulley and serpentine belt were replace.

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Driving in the rain, running through puddles causes my serpentine belt to come off. Had a mechanic put the belt back on. No problems with the belt or the tension. Apparently just getting the belt wet is enough to have it walk off the bottom pulley. When this happens I of course lose my power steering and it runs my battery down.

On 12-11-04 while returning home from work, I heard a loud noise coming from the engine and the car stalled. At first I though it was the timing belt. I took the car to a local shop who said that the timing belt had been stretched and had actually skipped gears. They replaced the timing belt and upon starting the vehicle, they heard a loud noise from the engine. They removed the spark plugs to find that the #4 plug had been broken due to an impact from the engine. After contacting the spark plug manufactuer, they said that this was a known problem with Ford 2. 0 engines manufacturered between 1991 and 2000. Ford used a powdered metal valve seal instead of a stainless steel one which over time breaks apart and falls into the engine damaging the engine. As a result, the engine must be replaced.

Timing belt broke while driving the vehicle on highway. Although luckily there was no injury, I was surprised to find similar report from the internet whose vehicle was manufactured during the same period. I think someone has to informed the owner to check the timing belt or reccomend a replacement before anyone get hurt. The vehicle is Ford Escort lx 96, manufacture on 12/95.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Escort 🔎.

My 2000 Ford zx2 idler pulley broke causing damage to the belt tensioner and water pump housing. The mechanic says that this is very unusual, he has never heard of such problems with any vehicle. I don't know if this is a fluke or a design flaw. Could you check into it.

See all problems of the 2000 Ford Escort 🔎.

Each time when vehicle splashes in a puddle of water the serpentine belt comes off.

Aluminum casting cracked on air conditioner bracket causing the serpentine belt to come off making the car undriveable.

The vehicle made a loud noise while driving. Consumer stated a rubber piece was loose inside the engine. The damp assembly separated and moved forward into the fender wall through the serpentine belt.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Escort 🔎.

Engine service light stays on while driving. This is caused by an oil sensor failure due to a hole in the oil pan which rusted the belts per mechanic.

The vehicle's belt tenioner assembly broke 3 time. The consumer had to replace the housing for water pump, timing belt tenioner and mico v belt.

The belt tensioner pulley broke from the arm. This was the second time the part broke.

Consumer states while driving on highway at approximately 50-60mph the engine's timing belt broke causing engine to stall. Ts.

Harmonic balancer for the king pin broke. Consumer states while exiting parkway, there was a loud vibration coming from the front end, the harmonic balancer was hitting into the wall of the vehicle, consumers husband checked under the vehicle to see what the problem was, his hand slipped and got caught between the belt and the balancer, resulting in his finger having to be amputated.

While driving heard a squeaking noise, lost control of steering. Contacted dealer. A part of the pulley broke, causing other components to fall off,, timming belt, etc.

While driving 30 mph crankshaft pulley fell off.

Consumer states there is noise coming from engine compartment. Dealer found damper failed belt caught between damper and fender well was damaged. Replaced damper and belt.

Crankshaft/ pulley came loose from mounting and shifting over, causing vehicle to lose all power. Piece that broke off jammed gear, and timing belt was changed and reset. Manufacturer and dealer did not know of a problem ,and didn't ofer to do anything. Warranty was expired. Part number and name is damper part# f7cz-6316-ba. The pully was lose and shifted half inch causing the belt to shread.

Harmonic balancer separated/broke causing serpentine and timing belts to malfunction. No previous problems with vehicle and luckily it occurred while vehicle parked with engine running. Original warranty "expired" less than 2 months prior. Understand now that this is a common problem from mechanics and the NHTSA website.

Dampner pulley came apart from crankshaft. Inside wall of vehicle was the only thing keeping it from falling out onto the ground. I notified Ford company that a 3 year old vehicle should not have parts falling off. They informed me that there was nothing they could do since the warranty had ran out. I am very unhappy with the attitude they have towards their customers.

Pulley had frozen and serpentine belt had came off. It was frayed. It then shot up into the timing belt. This caused the timing belt to jump & caused vehicle to stop. This is the 2nd time this problem had happened. The mechanic had repaired it the first time at 24,000 miles. The surpentine belts had to be replaced at 25000 miles and again at 54000 miles.

Because crankshaft dampner is defective serpentine belt was worn out and replaced. When it was worn out again in only 5000 miles the problem with the crankshaft dampner was found.

While driving about 30 mph power steering went out. Dealer found serpentine belt had snapped, causing bracket to water pump housing to break. Tension rod and waterpump housing were replaced at cosnumer's cost.

Bottom pulley/crankshaft has slowly separated and cut into the firewall. When turning left, the engine tilts and the crankshaft pulley cuts into the right fender. The mechanic says it is due to defect.

Cranshaft pulley broke, and then crankshaft pulley slid. Consumer lost power steering, and there was a loud noise.

Crankshaft/pulley broke as consumer was driving on the highway, and she heard a loud noise coming from underneath the hood. She took vehicle to a repair shop.

Due to a defective balancer that came apart through the serpertine belt, engine head gasket to blew out, causing vehicle to, stall unexpectly which may have resulted in a crash.

Timing belt was broke had replaced it car only runs on 2 cylinders car not running.

05/25/1999; while driving at 35 mph, the head gasket on engine "blew out" car was undriveable. On 07/15/1999; the horn started honking continuously on it's own, when car was parked & locked. Had to remove fuse to shut off. Dealer said it was a bad air-bag module, not covered by warranty, cost $ 675. 00. 07/25/99, crankshaft pulley broke off, car not driveable. I note 4 other reports on this web-site for the crankshaft pulley, and 1 each for the head-gasket & horn/airbag problems + many other airbag problems.

While driving at 60 mph crankshaft pulley fell off without prior warning.

While traveling 45mph lost steering power & brakes. Vehicle towed to dealer & was informed by mechanic the alternator belt broke. The pulley had shifted. The damper had failed & pushed the pulley over & caused the alternator to break.

The vibration damper fails and causes the pully to shift, causing the alt. Belt to rub against the side of the car until it breaks. This caused loss of power steering. Extremely dangerous situation caused by a defect in the design of this Ford component.

While sitting at a light vehicle shut down, and engine check light came on. Vehicle shut completely down due to computer module failure. Also, alternator and battery died out, and engine belt, that runs everythng within the vehicle, disconnected due to the harmonic balancer that almost came off. Three sensors were also replaced.

Defective damper pulley in the motor system fell apart, causing the steering and braking to lock up while driving without prior warning, and may cause a crash.

Consumer was driving vehicle at approximately 30 mph; heard a loud banging noise, pulled vehicle over, and noticed engine pulley disconnected. Dealer notified and repaired vehicle at the cost to the consumer.