mechanic put on timing belt....2004 1.7 auto...cut first water pump o ring....found after first test drive...car ran perfect...just a leak...put back in shop to correct....somehow an 80 amp fuse blew....could not find anything wrong.....replaced fuse...it did not blow....car starts for approx 5 seconds and then dies....we can not figure it out.

 

My guess would be that the camshaft and crankshaft were not returned precisely to TDC when the water pump was fixed.

 

the motor is in time....ran perfect the first time also....the belt was only removed again to correct the cut water pump o-ring.what would cause the 80 amp to blow...and then not blow again when replaced....this car came in over a year ago with the alt out.......we replaced one...and the car ran fine....we done the brakes and some tires....and the belt was just a preventative measure.....really has us stuck...thankyou kent

 

The alternator wire likely was shorted to blow the 80A fuse. Did you check whether fuse 4 or 20 was also blown? Check the alternator circuit carefully.

By the way, the 80A fuse also protects the ignition circuit, so you should check for blown fuses there as well.

Is the CEL ON?

Is there spark at all four plugs?

Is the fuel pump priming?

 

Shorting the big wire on the alternator to ground is the most common way to blow the 80A fuse. Check all the fuses in the underhood fuse box.

 

when the car starts...its runs like a normal start up procedure every time...just for approx 5 seconds and then dies