Hi folks,
I have a 04 1.8 ghia ford focus and its done only 40k an was wondering when the cambelt is supposed to be done.
The history of the car is its just had the usual servicing but nothing else.
On my seat leon it was 60k or every 4 years.
Just wondering if I should get it booked in to get done ?
I guess this has to include the water pump and other bits ?
Also whats the likely cost of this ?
IIRC, it's 10 years or 100k on the 1.8 Zetec motor
it is ten years/100k BUT they can shed the tensioner long before the belt wears out. You will probably be OK to leave it till it is ten years old, but it would be a good idea to do it earlier. An independent would be likely to charge about 200 quid for the whole job (belt kit plus labour) water pump and coolant and aux belt would be on top of that if needed, it would not be compulsory. Failure of belt or tensioner is a thousand pound job.
I think I'll aim to do it within 6 months just for peace of mind I guess at least I know it ones less thing that can go wrong. Although many might say its only 7 years old and only 41k but you never know if any of those related parts give up the ghost. And say a total cost of it all of £300 its worth it.
I have a ford main dealer local but usually avoid dealers as of their costs, so I need to find a decent ford specialist in my area :-s .. I had a few or more than a few bad experiences at my local indy so I will avoid asking them to do it. They "forgot" to bolt up 2 front tyres and let me drive off. I stopped in time. Not forgiveable.
Thanks for the info gents.
Do they fail silently or usually give a warning by starting to squeak first?
they go in an instant, it is not the bearing inside that fails, but the outer plastic surface which just drops off.
Blimey local ford dealer want £500 + vat to do the cambelt, waterpump, belt, and the other bits involved :-s
Trying to google a specialist in the Ringwood area (dorset)
18 months ago I paid £180 for my 1.8. That was everything you've mentioned except the water pump. It was done by a long-established mobile guy locally.
Sounds like a plan ;-)
Chris
Specialist?!
Any back-street grease monkey should be able to do that on a Focus.
The local garage are lethal with tools let alone my car.
I realise you posted that tongue-in-cheek, but actually the 1.4/1.6 Zetec SE engines are tricky due to the fact that the bottom pulley is not keyed.
It's caught out many a half-decent mechanic; the timing ends up being close enough for it to run, but once it warms up and gets revved valve contact occurs.
Chris
No, it wasn't tongue in cheek at all.
It's a bloody Focus, one of the best sellling cars of the last decade and a bit.
There shouldn't be any semi decent indie who can't do one!
*shouldn't* ;-)
Two years ago, a local garage had one to do. They failed to realise the problem with the bottom pulley; the inevitable result was a trashed head.
They fitted a second hand engine, replacing the cam belt as they did it - and made exactly the same mistake! They then had the head rebuilt on the first engine, and fitted that. Glad it wasn't my car...
The garage in question thought they were going to make good profits by using eastern European guys; they were hard working, but unfamiliar with anything vaguely modern. They went bust last year...
For completeness, it's essential on the Zetec SE's to use a proper timing kit, and do it to the book, Trying to mark the pulleys before disassembly, then use those marks to time it, will only end in tears. A near-neighbour has done exactly that with an old but tidy Fiesta, in spite of me warning him, and printing out the relevant information for him from Autodata. He's looking for a second hand engine now, but to be honest, it's probably scrap.
Chris
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