i bought a second hand engine with 18000 miles on (escort cossy) and went to change the cambelt and it has a channel in it, on closer inspection it looks like it has been rubbing on the thermostat housing, anyone seen anything like this before?

 

sounds like the belt has been to loose

 

the timing belt tensioner has been adjusted the wrong direction.
it should be turned clockwise against the belt NOT anti clock wise.
when i bought my saph 4x4 mine was the same so i changed the belt stright away.

 

nick is bang on seen it regular on cambelts its hitting the thermostat housing,when the belt tensioner is turned the correct direction to tighten you will have clearance between the stat housing and the belt .but there is another reason for a track in the middle of the belt,and if you look close you will see that it appears to be raised in the center,this is a kind of dirt and belt particles track caused by the split in surface of the belt tensioner pully and is effectivlly a part of the back of the belt that is never i contact with any surface

 

i'll change the belt and tensioner then, thanks for the advice guys!