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hi, theres a slight clicking noise coming from around the timing belt area which comes and goes.it isnt too noticable whilst driving but you can hear it quite clearly if you're looking under the bonnet....the car has done 108,000 miles,any ideas?
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My 97 Escort 1.8 (same engine, 105k miles) does this - A noise like someone randomly drumming with two pencils on the top of the engine. I narrowed it down to the timing belt resonating at idling speed and occasionally hitting the inside of the top timing belt cover. To prove this, undo the two 8mm bolts holding the top cover on and lift it off. 1)The noise should stop, and 2)There will be marks on the inside of the cover where the belt has been hitting it (midway between the two camshaft pulleys).
I only get it for the first few minutes after a cold start, I'm assuming the timing belt tensioner is a little reluctant to do its job until the grease etc has warmed up and become more fluid. So far the belt hasn't jumped or snapped, the Escort is basically disposable so I'm putting up with it for now, and trying to start the engine and drive off straight away rather than let it idle.
HTH.
Edited by Dave_TD {P} on 07/02/2010 at 22:49
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thanks for that dave but dont have a cover on mine for some reason so you can see the cam wheel and belt clearly.it had a full service last week and the garage never mentioned it not having a cover.gonna drop it in tomorrow and tell em
regards, dave
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Are you sure that is the cam belt you can see and not an auxiliary belt?
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I had a Focus a couple of weeks ago with the same symptoms. It turned out to be the alternator belt tensioner.
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yes i thought it was strange for it to have no cover on.its quite close to the water pump (i had a new one last week as it was leaking quite badly) i'll mention about the alternator belt tensioner aswell when i take it in thanks
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