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Mk2 Focus 1.4 crank but no start after auxiliary belt change

nodramas
nodramas
in Ford Focus Club

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Hi all,

Just changed the auxiliary belt on my Focus 1.4 and the car now won't start. It sounds like there is combustion happening, video of it below. 

I'm worried I might have affected the timing while putting the belt on. The 1.4 has a stretch belt and as I was turning the special tool on the water pump pulley to get the belt on, the crankshaft pulley rotated about 1/4 turn anticlockwise. I thought this could have put slack on the timing belt and caused it to jump but I don't know. It sounds like it might start if I just keep cranking it but don't want to do any damage.

The car hasn't been started in 3 weeks. Before I took the old belt off I had changed the air and oil filters, oil, spark plugs, and cleaned the throttle body, and it started after that. It currently has a P0420 code (cat system efficiency below threshold) but don't think the cat is clogged enough to prevent starting.

If anyone's got any ideas that'd be appreciated.

 

  • Quote


    • Author

    Never mind. Got it started. Just didn't crank it for long enough 🙄. If anyone has tips on getting rid of a P0420 beyond using cataclean I'm all ears.

  • Quote
    • Like 1

    Pleased you got it sorted. 👍

  • Quote

    Cat efficiency isn't usually caused by a blockage.  It's the cat itself worn out.  Replacing it is the only proper fix.  You could try unplugging the downstream lambda but I suspect that'll just throw a different fault code.

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