Ford Puma VVT problems (I think)

[messageman]

Daughter just wrote off her new car (Ford Puma) and I felt so sorry for her (after rejoicing that she's still alive) that I did something I would never normally do. As I have zero time to do anything these days I got onto ebay and just pushed the bid button on a Ford Puma replacement without viewing it first. Unfortunately, as I expected it had a few problems with it. The car had nearly no oil in it and when I drove it home it was lurching back and forth when de-acelerating (sort of felt like the engine mount had gone) to the point where I had to dip the clutch and disengage the engine. The next day I took it to Ford and they hooked it up to their machine and told me the VVT timing was spiking now and again which was causing the problem.

Their answer was to strip every VVT component out and replace it at a cost of roughly£1200. Now that the engine has had new oil up to the correct level the problem seems a lot better but it is still there and unacceptable. Anyone had similar problems? I am reluctant to spend £1200 if in real terms there could be a common widget (forever optimistic) that needs replacing instead of full blown surgery.

Edited by messageman on Saturday 2nd October 12:54

[Pumajay]

Do not spend £1200 on the car, and engine replacement can be done for around £500

ive owned 2 puma's and ive not heard of the VCT playing up, try www.pumapeople.com or projectpuma.com they might be able to help

[neiljohnson]

Gas the cambelt been off for any reason (replacment repair etc) as if the timing has been done incorrectly (a very common problem) then it will drive like crap. The system does also rely on oil pressure so if the oil was low that will also affect it.

Be worth taking it to a garage that can check the cam timing & go from there. Tbh i would be worried about the low oil though as the bottom ends can be easily damaged

If the vct is at fault (would be the first ive ever heard of failing) then as already stated engine replacement for £500 ish would be your best solution.

[TPS]

If your in Kent then Neil ^^^^^^ is your man

[messageman]

neiljohnson said:

Gas the cambelt been off for any reason (replacment repair etc) as if the timing has been done incorrectly (a very common problem) then it will drive like crap. The system does also rely on oil pressure so if the oil was low that will also affect it.

Be worth taking it to a garage that can check the cam timing & go from there. Tbh i would be worried about the low oil though as the bottom ends can be easily damaged

If the vct is at fault (would be the first ive ever heard of failing) then as already stated engine replacement for £500 ish would be your best solution.

When I first got it a week ago it hardly had any oil in it at all and was running crap. I since took it to Ford and they put oil in and a filter which made a lot for difference. They also rigged it up to their computer which showed the cam timing going out intermittently. They told me that the gears that run the VVT were probably damaged from running around with no oil.

The car drives smooth until you take you foot off the throttle, then it jumps around like the engine mount's missing. It doesn't do it all the time though, I would say about 25% of the time. I also get a bit sceptical about diagnostic computers. In the past I recall going back several times to a main dealer being told that it's one thing after another until they replace all the serviceable parts to get it fixed.

[neiljohnson]

messageman said:

neiljohnson said:

Gas the cambelt been off for any reason (replacment repair etc) as if the timing has been done incorrectly (a very common problem) then it will drive like crap. The system does also rely on oil pressure so if the oil was low that will also affect it.

Be worth taking it to a garage that can check the cam timing & go from there. Tbh i would be worried about the low oil though as the bottom ends can be easily damaged

If the vct is at fault (would be the first ive ever heard of failing) then as already stated engine replacement for £500 ish would be your best solution.

When I first got it a week ago it hardly had any oil in it at all and was running crap. I since took it to Ford and they put oil in and a filter which made a lot for difference. They also rigged it up to their computer which showed the cam timing going out intermittently. They told me that the gears that run the VVT were probably damaged from running around with no oil.

The car drives smooth until you take you foot off the throttle, then it jumps around like the engine mount's missing. It doesn't do it all the time though, I would say about 25% of the time. I also get a bit sceptical about diagnostic computers. In the past I recall going back several times to a main dealer being told that it's one thing after another until they replace all the serviceable parts to get it fixed.

O think a plug in diag & check the cam timing by someone who doesnt just replace bits till its fixed would be your best option tbh if the engines using a lot of oil better to just bite the bullet & get a decent 2nd hand one but if the oil consumption isnt too bad then investigate further.
These engines do tend to use some oil.