Otherwise known as the Cam-belt, it went with a twang while reversing from the sea just before the new year. I spent three days trying to sort the bl**dy thing out having got a new belt but got fed up of kipping in the car, I only had six quid in my pocket. Got it recovered the 150 miles home and am still struggling with the thing! The engine still turns over fine by the way.

Found out the brittle piece of (useless?) plastic on the belt tensioner had gone as well so shelled out another £20 to add to the tenner I'd already spent for a new rubber band. While the tensioner is only held to the lump with a bolt, there is a round piece of turned steel(?) apparently hammered onto the tensioner wheel/bearing that has what looks like some star-shaped recess in the middle. Now as this piece of metal isn't on the new tensioner, I can only assume I have to remove it from the old and fit it to the new? Does anyone know how to get the c**t off and what the hell it is there for, as I don't get it?

Please bear in mind I'm just a bodge merchant at heart with a handful of tools, but as I was sacked last year with no prospect of ever getting another proper job I'm brassic! I can't believe it's that difficult to put a new laggy band on the f**ker but I'm close to torching it for the insurance! Shame, as the lump is fine and it's otherwise a pretty solid motor.

If anyone can point me in the direction of a good fishing wagon that I can run on used cooking oil and maintain myself without all the hassle these built-in design faults cause the average bloke please let me know? I'm not interseted in anything with a poxy computer or loads of electric bol**cks, just a steady A-B mobile that doesn't let you down, freeze you to death, rattle your bones or bleed you dry?

Any polite suggestions?

Cheers, T

John Smith, January 2005

Get a job and pay someone who knows how to change the TIMING BELT and tensioner, labour approx 2 hrs 60 notes.
belt and tensinoer no more than 35 notes.
Cheaper than buying another motor.

Go to www.jobcentreplus.co.uk

There are thousands of jobs online , if you are prepared to work

Cllr Jefferies , Parish council of Newton, November 2008

I had exactly the same problem on my escort. The star is actually a torx bolt (of which I do not know the exact size). I had to buy a new idler sprocket too which came with a new standard bolt. When I came to mine the torx bolt had already been butchered so the only way i could release it was to drill into it and use some screw extractors to get it out. Car was sitting on the drive for ages till i worked out what to do with it.

Up to you what you do and hope it's sorted by now but if it isn't it's well worth trying to borrow a set of extractors.

regards

damnstudents, January 2005