I have a 14 plate Ford Fiesta, 60K miles. Doesn’t get a lot of use as I have a van for work and the Mrs car is bigger and more convenient for family use, I’m lucky if I drive it once a week for 10 miles or so.

I was driving it on Friday to drop a family member off and I filled it with Premium petrol as the the garage had the normal petrol pump locked off.

As I got to the main road outside of their house the Engine started making a screeching noise and stalled in neutral a couple of times at the lights I drove into the estate and when they got out there was a strong burning smell. And white smoke coming out from Drivers side.

 

I had a look under the hood so as I’m looking at it the driver’s side is on the left and it looked like smoke comping out from around the visible belt with a strong burning smell.

 

Any ideas on what this could be? My worry is it’s the Cylinder Head and the car is basically scrap now. It’s also now about 5 miles from my mechanic I’m wondering if it would be drivable to get it to their workshop?

Could really have done without this so close to Christmas but I do rely on the wee car to get me about when not at work or with the family.

 

cheers

Which engine?

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

Which engine?

1200cc Petrol Zetec

16 minutes ago, Renfrewfiesta said:

1200cc Petrol Zetec

Ok, that'll be a 1.25 (1242cc) in a Fiesta.  Not to be confused with the 1.2 fitted to the Ka.

Sounds like a bearing may have seized on the auxiliary belt run.  If the coolant wasn't overheating and the battery light wasn't illuminated then we can probably rule out waterpump and alternator.  That only leaves the Air Con compressor on this engine.  (No tensioner or idler fitted)

Best option is to remove the auxiliary belt and check all the pulleys by hand.  (No tensioner fitted so belt should be cut off but you can slip the belt off the smooth waterpump pulley without damage if careful.)  You can also run the engine briefly without the belt fitted, but the coolant won't be circulating and the battery won't be charging so not safe to drive 5 miles like that.

If the noise & smoke are still present with the aux belt removed then it could be the cambelt tensioner.  If that's the case, a cambelt kit replacement will be needed and it will not be safe to run the engine any longer.

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Ok, that'll be a 1.25 (1242cc) in a Fiesta.  Not to be confused with the 1.2 fitted to the Ka.

Sounds like a bearing may have seized on the auxiliary belt run.  If the coolant wasn't overheating and the battery light wasn't illuminated then we can probably rule out waterpump and alternator.  That only leaves the Air Con compressor on this engine.  (No tensioner or idler fitted)

Best option is to remove the auxiliary belt and check all the pulleys by hand.  (No tensioner fitted so belt should be cut off but you can slip the belt off the smooth waterpump pulley without damage if careful.)  You can also run the engine briefly without the belt fitted, but the coolant won't be circulating and the battery won't be charging so not safe to drive 5 miles like that.

If the noise & smoke are still present with the aux belt removed then it could be the cambelt tensioner.  If that's the case, a cambelt kit replacement will be needed and it will not be safe to run the engine any longer.

Thanks for all your help. Any idea what those repairs are likely to cost? I’ll need to arrange a tow down to the garage also I guess.

Difficult to quote without making the suggested checks first.

If the AC pump has failed you can just have a shorter belt fitted for now.  Cost around £10 for a belt plus half an hours labour.

If you want a replacement used AC compressor fitted that's likely to be around £100 for the part & belt, an hours labour and an AC regas so around £250.

If it's a cambelt fault then around £400 all in for cambelt kit, waterpump and aux belt fitted.

Cheers for the help mate