No start and strange knocking sound
 

Hi sorry I didn't know where to put this being non Volvo related I have a mondeo 1.8 petrol as a spare car but it will not start..it turns over fine but it has a knocking sound from the engine cam chain is fine and belts are intact any ideas thanks

For the no start I'd go with the basics first,so check for spark at plugs and whether fuel is being delivered-a guy who lives near where I rent my garage has a 1.8 Mondeo which failed to start and his fault was the fuel pump.Where does it seem to be knocking from? i.e. top of engine,bottom,near side,off side?Is there something you can liken the knock to-such as say the exhaust hitting against body work-to give an idea of the sound it's making?Is it knocking in time with the engine spinning over?

How old is it? Does it have a dual mass clutch?

Check the fuel pump fuse.
The focus had problems with the pump seizing and blowing the fuse.
You can bridge it at your own risk to restart the car but you will need a new pump very soon if this is the issue.

Disregard this comment, I didn’t notice the no start bit. Hope you find a solution

TT

The 1.8 duratec is not immune from a severely worn cam chain tensioner.

I know you say the chain is ok but is that solely from looking from the valve train/rocker cover end?
Have you checked all your timing marks line up?

If not I would do so and don't crank over with the starter anymore until it is confirmed that they do line up.
I've got in my head that the 1.8 is an interference fit engine & it's not beyond the realms for a slack chain to allow the chain to slip a few teeth which would coincide with non starting and knocking as the valve train slaps the top of the pistons.

In contradiction to my thought pattern of don't crank it until timing marks are confirmed, if your struggling to locate timing marks a quick compression check will show up valves running out of time.

Let us know how you get on.