My ZX2 has a major PROBLEM. Need HELP!

I have a 2001 Ford ZX2, 135 k miles. It all of a sudden lost power and makes a loud grinding noise when accerlerating. The noise sounds like it is coming from the back of the engine just below where the air intake is. It sounds like metal bolts shaking real hard or gravels vibrating loudly and now the car sucks a lot more air for some reason. I have no idea what it could be. PLEASE HELP!

The transmission is located under the airfilter box. Does the car make noise in neutral or park? Engine would most likely make noise at higher rpm's sitting still as well as moving.

the sound comes from underneith the intake or it sounds like it does. It will make the sound parked or moving in gear or out. Its an automatic.

definitely sounds like engine or maybe accessory problem. You can use a mechanics stethoscope to help isolate the location of the noise. Also some basic checks; belt ok, fluids contaminated or have metal present. Doesn't sound good.

All fluids are ok and no metal in them. The sound appears when the gas peddle is pushed in gear or out of gear. Imagine taking a tin can with nuts and bolts in it and shaking it real fast and hard, that's what it sounds like. Power loss is present bigtime.

definitely sounds engine related but hard to pinpoint without teardown or diagnostic tools. Good luck with it.

definitely sounds like engine or maybe accessory problem. You can use a mechanics stethoscope to help isolate the location of the noise. Also some basic checks; belt ok, fluids contaminated or have metal present. Doesn't sound good.

accessories are on teh other side of the motor.

very true but sounds radiate, especially through metal, hence the reference fort using a stethescope to isolate the source. Grinding could be a bad bearing an alternator etc... I do believe however it's probably internal engine or torque converter. Without actually seeing the car it's hard to give a definitive answer.

Hey guys thanks for the help. Keep the possibilities coming, because I'll look into each one and narrow this thing down. I went and had a dianostic check and "Camshaft sensor" popped up. What does it do and why would that come up? Thanks, Eugene

camshaft sensor helps computer to understand engine position in relation to timing and to help adjust it based on rpms. Not sure if it's related or not but could be that metal in the engine has atuck to sensor causing bad signal to computer.

Sounds like a broken flexplate to me. It sometimes sets off "cam sensor" or p0340

does the car still drive?
it wouldn't with a broken flexplate, right?

flexplate breaks in the center usually and yes I have had drivable vehicles with broken flexplate. It will eventually break out the center but not always right away.

I drive it everyday to work and back. I just know it has lost considerable power and makes a grinding noise just beneath the throttle body when the gas peddle is pushed whether it is in park or driving and it sucks in a whole lot more air and it makes it sound like a motorcycle from all the air it is sucking thru the air filter compartment. We gutted the catylytic converter and that wasn't it, we changed plugs and that wasn't it, we changed the camshaft sensor and that wasn't it.............anymore suggestions?

I have the same Problem but itwas right after the timing belt gave its last start. The mechanic told me that the it might have bent some valves. check your timing belt. it shounld be changed every 60,000 miles. My car shakes when its idel and on park even when i start it. it does sond like nuts and bolts being shaked in a can.

Ya, cam/valve problems sound very possible. Can't imagine the cause, but at least it's all relatively easy to service being a 4 cyl.

A valvetrain problem would be unrelated, it's a non-interferance motor.

a budie of mind had a saturn that kinda sounded like that , one of his timing chain guides broke...that was a fun job to do lol...but zx2s have belts, dont they? i have not had to do mine yet so i dont know

a budie of mind had a saturn that kinda sounded like that , one of his timing chain guides broke...that was a fun job to do lol...but zx2s have belts, dont they? i have not had to do mine yet so i dont know

If you have a stethoscope, (or if not use a piece of gas line hose or similar put to your ear) as stated before try to find the area or source of the noise. Just a shot in the dark but try a compression test, what's the chance it cracked a piston or threw piston rings? you said it lost power? maybe some more input tho, I could be way off

You could check for a bad piston or just by pulling the plug wires one at a time with the engine running. Little or no drop in RPM would tell what cylinder. Also with a broken ring or piston, the engine would burn mad oil.

-Mark

Ok, just another shot in the dark I had the same noises coming from my truck one day doing deliveries, (commercial driver, truck is an international 4700 series) the starter motor stayed engaged sounded metallic, kinda like dragging chains or something. However this blew the starter and it wouldn't crank. I thought you stated that you are still driving it tho, like I said just another shot in the dark, but maybe the gear on the starter is not returning from the flywheel.

i have a 2001 zx2 with exactly the same problem loss of power, noise from the engine and code p0340, weve changed maf sensor, cam sensor, tps sensor, not the pronlem. could it be them v.c.t causing the problem?

It sounds like it to me, I had the VCT go in mine. Same symptoms. It threw p0340. Run yours above 2500 and unplug the VCT, if the engine doesn't change tone your VCT is stuck. Or unplug the cam sensor and the engine should run better.