[snip]

    The tensioner failed on my UK 1.8l Focus at 52k miles with a
similar result. After a reasonable amount of polite persistence Ford
agreed to pay half of the cost to replace the engine. I'd have
prefered them to pay the whole cost- obviously(!)- but at the time I
thought it was a fair offer since the car was out of warranty.

    Out of interest, was it the dealer who wasn't interested in
helping or were you also dissapointed by Ford's customer care people?

    Tim.

put a second hand lump in it then u r back on the road..

The cam belt on my 2000 zetec (16v) is guaranteed for 100,000 miles but my
tensioner failed at 70,000 and bent all 8 exhaust valves - they did not want
to know either.

MC

Its a disposable car. You got your money's worth.

I'd send it to junkyard rather than repair it for $8,300.

Last Friday night my 2001 Ford Focus's engine died on me.  Apparently,
there is a broken piston rod, which ended up causing a cracked block
and a hole in the oil pan. The kicker is that my 100,000km warranty
JUST expired 1,542 kms ago.  This just can't be right!  Even the guys
at the Ford dealership I had my car towed to are flabbergasted as to
how this could have happened and are pretty sure it's no fault of mine.
I have NEVER missed any regular maintenance on the vehicle, there were
no oil/fluid leaks, smells, noises and no indicator lights came on to
warn me of any problems.  My car was just at Ford in May (prior to
hitting 100,000 kms) gettting the fuel delivery module replaced (for
free) on a safety campaign, and at the same time I had them go over my
car and do any maintenence that needed to be done (replaced spark plugs
etc...$400 in maintenance).  My car was hooked up to the diagnostics
computer and the only problem they found was that they confirmed my
engine hesitation problem was due to the faulty fuel delivery module.
I also had just gotten and oil change about 2,000 km before that, and
have had it done since that service.  I always use the reccommended 87
octane (Chevron), and always check my oil (I've never had to fill it).
I am the one and only owner of this car. I drive it every day to and
from work (about 6 kms each way), plus I make at least one out of town
trip (on the freeway) each week.  I park the car inside most of the
time and the weather here (Vancouver, B.C.) doesn't really get that bad
that it would affect anything.

I'm in for a huge battle with Ford as I was advised today by Ford Motor
Company (Canada) that Ford is flat out REFUSING to help me out with the
cost of the repair, which might I add is a hefty $8,300 for a new
engine (including labour), because I am passed my 100,000km warranty
peroid!   My family has been long time Ford customers (including using
Ford trucks for my Dad's fleet of work trucks), but that's all changing
now due to the HORRIBLE service I received today on the phone.  The
dealership I'm dealing with has been GREAT, but Ford has been nasty.

So, what my question to you is...What in the hell would have caused the
broken piston rod?

If anyone can offer any words that would help me in my battle with
Ford, I would really appreciate it!  I don't want to use the lawsuit
card unless I have to.