2012 Transit Connect breakdown - engine failure ?

[beatnik]

Hello everyone

my 2012 Transit Connect broke down today. Was driving on a highway at about 70mph, went over a small bump on the road and the engine started losing power and making a rattling sound as I tried to accelerate. I could just go as far as reaching the nearest safe point on the highway but the van won't start no more.

I am on vacation in Italy visiting family and in the middle of the festive season all local service shops are closed. I might have found a place open on Monday to have a look at it, but I have a ferry back to England on the 5th January.

I am not tech savvy when it comes to cars, but to me it sounded like a mechanical failure in the engine. Worth to mention the van had just been serviced two weeks earlier and had the oil, filters and front brakes replaced, and the service man didn't mention anything else that needed changing.

I have spent the afternoon trying to get some clues on what the problem could be, my main concern is a repair for this kind of thing could take a long time, and likely be quite expensive. My partner has to be back to work by the end of next week, so we might have to book a flight back home.

Just wanted to try asking here and hopefully get some advice or clues, or just a little bit of hope at least.

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas and looking forward to a good start of the new year (preferably with a fully working Transit)

[winterheating]

Is Oil level ok?

[beatnik]

Most certainly oil was ok. Before leaving UK I checked level and just added a tiny top up. While driving down to Italy, after about 800km an indicator light came up (yellow light with spanner symbol) I did stop and check the manual and it looked like it was a normal request for routine maintenance check up (the van has done about 8000 miles since I bought it August 2019)
So I just carried on and made my way home to about 200km more and once arrived I have left the van with a certified Renault service center which is somewhat trustworthy. The guy at the shop checked the van and reported he changed oil and filters, and refurbished front brakes, but couldn't find anything that needed messing with... although I am pretty sure they were quite busy around Christmas time and probably didn't flip all the stones...
I should clarify again the van broke down after going over a bump on the highway, it was definitely a direct consequence of that mechanical stress. But I am not in a position to know whether the van had other underlying issues.
I have brought the van back to the Renault service center, and there is a Ford service center just across the road. I really hope someone will be able to get it sorted so I will be able to catch the ferry back on the 5th Jan, but with new years eve in between, I don't feel particularly optimistic...

[winterheating]

I mentioned the oil, in case something large has nicked a hole in the sump.

Or another favourite could be an unsecure battery.

Was it a large pothole?

[beatnik]

Wanted to write an update about the situation and ask for advice

The repair center checked out the van today and turns out the drive belt in the engine has broken and as a result the valves got bent

They are suggesting a new refurbished engine would be cheaper than repairing the actual one that is broken

At this point I am expecting a very costly repair (have been told a first estimate of 2000 € ) and I am wondering wether would be worth it at all.

I had bought the van for £ 4000 in August 2019 and it had 106000 miles. The shop I bought it from changed the cam belt, they said it has to be done after 100000 miles but they certainly didn't change the secondary drive belt that is within the motor ! I have done 8000 miles and now after just 4 months the van is completely broken down.

This is the first van I have bought and I couldn't imagine a more awful outcome. I don't know wether I should look into spending the extra money in changing the engine or just bite the bullet and scrap the van. I certainly feel that the shop who sold me the van should have replaced the belt that has broken, because that also needs changing after 100000 miles so I have been told.

I would love to hear the opinion of someone more experienced than me if you have any comments or suggestions please let me know

Thank you

[winterheating]

There is a cam belt and a timing chain.
Bad luck.
Get a cheaper 2nd engine.

[Boghopper]

There is a cam belt and a timing chain.

Not on this model there isn't. On this year Connect it is a top cam-belt, then from the crank to the fuel pump there is the ridiculous, toothed, rubber timing belt sat in the filthy, contaminated sump oil. What belt has snapped? My money is on the lower timing belt, as usual. If we lived in a society that wasn't sick, Ford should have been made liable for all the people's vans they have destroyed with their negligence. If you research all the Connects being broken, around 50% are there because the lower timing belt has snapped.

[winterheating]

Ah yes, that’s right. They changed it again. That’s a bit silly.

[beatnik]

the dealer sold me the van saying they would comply with Ford guidelines : over 100000 miles the cam belt needs change. I find hard to believe they were not aware of the lower belt... they are a company specialised in second hand vans and they should know these things. I certainly didn't know anything about the subject and I just trusted their word.

I have used the van only for 4 months and now I have to completely throw it away, the repair costs are way too expensive. To make things even worse I cannot get any money back from selling it as spares / repair because it's a UK model and nobody in Italy wants a car with left hand drive.

It feels like really bad luck but at the same time I am convinced this company who sold a van with a ticking time bomb are real b*stards. They claimed to be honest and comply with the manufacturer standards, but in fact they didn't replace the most important part, that could destroy the van. unfortunately the warranty is past the expiry date so I cannot make any claims. what a disaster

[beatnik]

I have checked the emails I did exchange with the dealer prior to purchasing the vehicle, and they claimed the van would come with full service, pre delivery inspection and mot.

The warranty expired two months ago but I really believe the dealer should have suggested changing the timing belt, instead of just doing the cam belt and telling that's what the manufacturer standard is.

I am really out of desperation, but maybe I do have some ground to take legal action ?

It would be great to hear some advice if some of you ended up in a similar situation.

[andz327]

Speak to the dealer that sold you the van before you do anything , threaten lawyers if need be, do they have Twitter, Instagram or facebook connected to the sales company and take to that and start to bad light the company and sometimes thats enough to get things moving ...... probably the biggest problem is where the van is ...... good luck sir

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

[anneken]

Heya, the EXACT same thing has happened to me
Had top cambelt replaced by dealership with sale - no idea there was another belt
9 months later whilst overseas the drivebelt has snapped and wrecked engine and van unsalvagable - they said this belt should have been replaced and wasnt
now trying to see if theres grounds to take action against dealership
what did u end up doing, any success??