Hey guys, I put this up in the 4-cyl section, and thought maybe it'd be more appropriate in here...

I'm new here, and got a couple ?'s

My gf drives a 97 mazda b2300. Its got the 2.3 (obviously) with 130k which I knew was a Ford motor, so hence why I'm here.

?'s ---> Today she was about two blocks from our house and it died on her. She said she was in second gear (manual) and it "chugged" a couple times and died. She also said that the CEL came on. Went to AutoZone, rented the code reader and got this... " Camshaft Position Sensor. Bank 1 Circut Malfunction" Erased the code, and it still wouldn't start.

So, after work today I'm planning on replacing the sensor. Sounds like it'll be a PITA! remove Belt, a/c compressor, power steering pump. But after doing a little reading here I'm thinking that it might not solve the problem.

What do you guys think? Is it tough to do? Will it solve it, or did we just open up a can of worms? we're on a college student budget too... Thanks in advance!!!

P.S. I'm a bowtie guy, so hopefully you Ford guys can take it easy on me!!!

 

Has it ever had the timing belt replaced? The symptoms sound like the timing belt broke, or jumped time. It should run some without the camshaft position sensor.

 

It wouldnt start tho. She tried a few times and i did too. It would turn over easily, just not start. Wish I'd have thought bout the timing belt. Hope we didnt do any damage!!! Any other ideas?

 

Does it sound like the starter is not working as hard? Like it doesn't crank it just sounds like a motor running? If so then your timing belt is done for. You are luck though because I believe the 4cly engines are non interference motors meaning a piston at TDC will not hit a fully open valve.

 

So... I tore into it a little bit after work. I was going to replace the sensor. Then I thought about the timing belt (thanks to you guys) and sure as heck, it was busted. I hope like hell that its a non-interference motor, otherwise I'm sure there's a bent valve somewhere... I'm guna do some searchin on here and see if I can get enough info to do it myself. Hopefully I won't have to take it into a shop

Thanks for the help guys

 

thats the first thing i was going to say. (check the timing belt.)

while you are in there, replace the idler for the timing belt, its about $40 from ford.

i have a belt and idler that are almost new somewhere, they came off my old 2.3 when it threw a rod.

 

Is there a how-to for the 2.3 timing belt? Or something of that sort? Like I said, I'm not to familiar with Fords. Sounds like it is possible to do, but if you guys have any pointers or tips to make it easier I'd be greatful!!! It looks like I have to take off the p/s pump, a/c compressor, and that big bracket they're mounted to. Is that right? Once I do that how can I tell when I have things lined up correctly?

Sorry for all the ?'s I'm in college, and am tryin to save her (myself) the money that it'd cost me to have a shop do it.

 

Time to invest in a Haynes manual.

 

I agree, the 2.3L is a non-interference engine. At one time, you could get a Ford shop manual on CD off of E-bay, I don't know if they would still be available or not.

 

It didn't do any valve damage. I've replaced my 2.3's timing belt before when it broke. I rented a repair manual from the local library so it didn't cost me anything and it had the step by step procedure on how to do it. It wasn't 2 bad of a job but it did take a little bit of time. Good Luck with the repair.

 

Thanks guys, yeah I guess I'll be back to the parts store for a manual. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, so hopefully it's possible for me to do. Luckily I do have a little bit of time to spare. As long as there's no "special" tools I should be able to do it. We'll see tonight. Guna pick up a six pack, and a repair manual and see how it goes!!!
Thanks again!!

 

Good luck Jesse!! I suggest getting the timing marks lined up before drinking the 6-pack!!

 

So for my first post, I thought I'd throw in here. Theres 3 gears with a timing belt ona 2.3 the lowest gear- crank gear, the topmost gear-camgear, and the one on the middle right side which i have no clue what it does but you dont have to set it with timing. theres also a tension pulley. loosen the tension pulley bolt, use prybar to move the pulley tighten the bolt to hold it in place(AFTER YOU'VE LINED UP TIMING MARKS) slide the belt on, loosen bolt to release tension pully, tighten bolt agian, make sure there are no accessories that can get caught and turn the motor over to see if it starts. (hafta pull jumper as well i think) anyways it works or it dont, and if it works rough double check your timing marks, never adjsut timing morethan one tooth at a time. theres a whole lot more to it than that, IE moving and reinstalling accessories, but that all memory games. put it back the way you got it. I took me about 2 hrs with moving accessories and reinstalling to adjust my timing belt twice. (one tooth one way then two teeth the other way, when i realized i went wrong way) If the prob is already fixed, thats great news. Hopefully this will help someone.

 

Thanks for the help!! I'll be gettin after it in about 4 hours... lol. As long as my limited amount of tools can do the job, I should be alright. I'm definently making a stop by the parts store on the way home for a haynes manual. Don't want to mess things up TOO bad!! LOL. A few brews, a can of bug spray, and some busted knuckles and it should hopefully be done without too many profanities.

 

the little gear thing to the right is the oil pump, make sure all three are lined up correctly.

 

So I tore into it last night. Turns out it was a little bigger job than I hoped for. I didn't have any problem takin all the accessories off and what not. I just couldn't get that plastic cover off the back. And I wasn't exactly sure how I would be able to turn the crank to line up the timing marks. So after about 4 hours I gave up :( Just a few too many bug bites and busted knuckles, and a few tools to few LOL. We got a mechanic down the street from our house thats pretty cheap, so hopefully he has no problem finishing what I started. If nothing else, hopefully I saved an hour or two of labor by takin everything apart for him!! Got all the bolts bagged up and labled for him, so its probably an easy job for him lol.