Cambelt

[Johnfieasta]

What is the mileage on my fiesta before I have to change the cambelt? Please

[DieselPig]

Officially 100K miles or ten years, get it changed at 50K miles.

[cjay1]

why get it changed @ 50k if ford recommend 100k is there a high premature failure rate?

[Johnfieasta]

Thank you both for replying to my question about changing the cambelt.There seems to be a lot of difference in the mileage 50 k and 100k to me if the cambelt is tested by the Ford manufacturer to run for this mileage then that is when it ishould be renewed. Perhaps it could be explained by Ford and clarified. Regards John. 

[Russ]

100,000 or ten years whichever comes sooner! As yours is a 2013 model, unless it's near 100,000 then forget it just now.

[Bobr]

In the 2013 models, don't the cam belts run in oil?

[EcoboostWarrior]

I thought it was inside the engine and never needs replacing 

[Pullock]

2 hours ago, Bobr said:

In the 2013 models, don't the cam belts run in oil?

 

1 hour ago, EcoboostWarrior said:

I thought it was inside the engine and never needs replacing 

That's only on the ecoboost engines, not any of the NA ones.

[jace1969]

So my 2011 1.6 is the same.......100k or 10 years,lot to go then as 25k and just coming to 6 years.

Do a lot just go off the millage rather than the 10 years as a lot out there like me wont get close to 100k,i know its a £££ job

but say you hit 60k in your 10 years or is just a hit and miss and own choice,as said above sure ford test these for the short/long journeys.

 

[TomsFocus]

The reality is most belts won't snap even shortly after their 'best before' date/mileage...  It's really just a guess as every car is driven and stored differently anyway, Ford can't possibly say exactly how long a belt will last, how could they do 100,000 mile or 10 year test in real world conditions before releasing the car on the market?

There are some engines that are known for snapping belts early (I've known GTi6s snap belts before 30k!) but I'm not sure I've read of any modern Fiesta or Focus belt failing early?

The risk is that IF the belt did fail, it's a huge inconvenience and cost to sort out...so its up to the owner to decide if it's worth spending the money changing it early for peace of mind or not.

 

[m1tch]

Don't forget to change the water pump + tensioners as well when the belt is done.

[Johnfieasta]

I have been looking on YouTube and there are a few video's on changing the cambelt also the cost to replace the belt and pump £275 was quoted somewhat cheaper doing it yourself not that I would attempt to do it at my age. I going to take the advice of Russ as my car has just under 37000. Thanks for all the good advice. John.

[winemart2]

AIUI, with ecoboost, it'll prolly cost so much to replace it, just carry on past the 10years/100k and risk it.

At my current mileage, 100k will take 30 years, I 'aint gonna be around then.

The 10 years might be a slight worry though :D

 

[Johnfieasta]

In ten years time if I get there I will be 92 and my valve timing is already misfiring and my big ends are missing there shims.

nice talking to you guys take care John.

[jace1969]

I might just get to 50k in 10 years,the car is only used for short trips and if i put 5k a year on my miles i will be amazed.

Putting the millage aside as anyone gone 10 years or more on these,by the way i have had a cambelt go on me in my old CVH escort so i know the

cost,pistons went/valves so just had top half of the engine as in them days cheap,like would you have pump/belt done at 50k and gone 10 years when they say 100k.

Anyone out there got a mk7 over 10 years old on same belt/pump.

[Pullock]

1 hour ago, jace1969 said:

I might just get to 50k in 10 years,the car is only used for short trips and if i put 5k a year on my miles i will be amazed.

Putting the millage aside as anyone gone 10 years or more on these,by the way i have had a cambelt go on me in my old CVH escort so i know the

cost,pistons went/valves so just had top half of the engine as in them days cheap,like would you have pump/belt done at 50k and gone 10 years when they say 100k.

Anyone out there got a mk7 over 10 years old on same belt/pump.

The MK7 hasnt been out for 10 years yet mate, let alone the 7.5 probably the longest someone will have is 7/8 years old.

[jace1969]

On 28/10/2016 at 8:58 AM, Pullock said:

The MK7 hasnt been out for 10 years yet mate, let alone the 7.5 probably the longest someone will have is 7/8 years old.

Thats a good point,never looked at that,its a bit of a thing when you have a low millage car in 10 years like not even close to 100k in any way.

[Johnfieasta]

My fiesta that I have now is going to be the last car that I will own it's now nearly four years old I have had it six months now 

I love this car in every way I wish I had bought one ten years back then again looking back I would not have had the money.

I watched the breakfast news this morning learner drivers are being allowed to use the motorways I don't use the motorway that much is it a good idea? John.

[Tdci-Peter]

12 hours ago, Johnfieasta said:

learner drivers are being allowed to use the motorways I don't use the motorway that much is it a good idea?

As long as it is supervised, and at the discretion of the instructor, as it is proposed to be, I think it is a very good idea.

When I learnt, it was not required to exceed 30mph to pass the test, most lessons & the test were on 30 limit urban roads. Then I was let loose on 60mph A roads & motorways. I suspect I was a danger to myself, and to others! No real idea of braking distances & safe separations.

In fact I was lucky in that I had a fair amount of supervised driving with a parent, at speeds up to 60, but not on high speed dual carriageways & motorways.

The motorways are much busier now, and tend to have that nasty fast-slow cycling for no apparent reason. It can catch out the unwary or inexperienced driver very easily.

Perhaps it should be a requirement for any new driver to have some supervised motorway experience before they are let loose on the M40 or M3 at busy times (ie 16 hours a day, 6 days a week, or more)

[TomsFocus]

9 hours ago, Tdci-Peter said:

Perhaps it should be a requirement for any new driver to have some supervised motorway experience before they are let loose on the M40 or M3 at busy times (ie 16 hours a day, 6 days a week, or more)

This wouldn't work for everyone though...those of us on the east coast of Suffolk have a 2 hour drive before hitting a motorway!    I've still only driven on a 'real' motorway twice in 7 years driving now lol.  However some of the dual carriageways here are just like motorways anyway, the only difference I noticed was the colour of the signs and the smoother road surface.   

I don't see it as a bad thing that learners are allowed on the motorway, but making it a requirement would be a bit tricky, I'm sure there are other areas that have the same problem as well, west coast of Wales etc.

[Johnfieasta]

On 24/10/2016 at 0:19 PM, TomsFocus said:

The reality is most belts won't snap even shortly after their 'best before' date/mileage...  It's really just a guess as every car is driven and stored differently anyway, Ford can't possibly say exactly how long a belt will last, how could they do 100,000 mile or 10 year test in real world conditions before releasing the car on the market?

There are some engines that are known for snapping belts early (I've known GTi6s snap belts before 30k!) but I'm not sure I've read of any modern Fiesta or Focus belt failing early?

The risk is that IF the belt did fail, it's a huge inconvenience and cost to sort out...so its up to the owner to decide if it's worth spending the money changing it early for peace of mind or not.

 

The My fiesta that I have now is going to be the last car that I will own it's now nearly four years old I have had it six months now 

I love this car in every way I wish I had bought one ten years back then again looking back I would not have had the money.

I watched the breakfast news this morning learner drivers are being allowed to use the motorways I don't use the motorway that much is it a good idea? John.

I do fear that the instructors that have to venture on the.M25 from Dover and Folkestone will be nervous wrecks in a very short time I use the M25 and the M2 the speed restrictions are ignored. My experience on returning from Ashford to Folkestone a speed limit was coming up of 50miles mph I was on right hand lane "the fast lane" I began to slow down to 50mph and then cars began to overtake on the inside their speed were well in excess of 50mph also constantly being cut up I could go on!,

I find that heavy loaded vehicles are the best drivers and there are many of those they do keep to their speed limits.

l have liked your views on learner drivers thanks for replying. John.

[Tdci-Peter]

17 minutes ago, Johnfieasta said:

I began to slow down to 50mph and then cars began to overtake on the inside their speed were well in excess of 50mph also constantly being cut up I

Too many Motorway drivers are very aggressive, and are unable to see past the car in front of them to see the traffic ahead, or any speed restrictions. The distances many drivers keep from the vehicle ahead are ridiculous. When I see groups of nose to tail cars steaming along at well over 70mph, it makes me very nervous . A touch on the brakes on the car at the front will become panic emergency braking after progressing down about 6 cars.

Human reaction time is about 200ms, that applies to young F1 racing drivers as much as to drivers over 70. 200ms at 75mph is nearly 7m, that is about 2 car lengths, and will be lost at each vehicle in a queue as they react to the car in front. That is before the brakes are applied, and assumes 100% concentration on driving.

I like to have a good gap in front of me, to compensate for this, but that really winds up the aggressive morons, overtaking or undertaking me, and pulling in in front of me well within the safety zone. I always try to plan journeys at night, or quieter times, to avoid the manic rush.

I know most drivers immediately throw out any knowledge picked up from learning along with the L-plates, and I was no exception . But just maybe, if young drivers learn more about sensible lane discipline and safe distances, it would slowly make things a bit better.

7 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

This wouldn't work for everyone though...those of us on the east coast of Suffolk have a 2 hour drive before hitting a motorway!

You're right, I should have said Motorway or fast dual carriageway. I am about an hour from the nearest official motorway. The same lessons apply to both.

----

On a related, but different theme, I have done a bit of long haul night driving over Xmas. I am having great difficulty in reading non-illuminated road signs, especially the green & yellow primary A road ones. Is it just my eyes, or are a lot of the signs getting very dirty?

 

[TomsFocus]

1 hour ago, Tdci-Peter said:

On a related, but different theme, I have done a bit of long haul night driving over Xmas. I am having great difficulty in reading non-illuminated road signs, especially the green & yellow primary A road ones. Is it just my eyes, or are a lot of the signs getting very dirty?

 

The signs are dirty at the minute, it's the wet mud and road salt that flicks up off of all the tyres causing a fine mist that coats them, and we haven't had any heavy rain to wash them recently.  I suppose it may even be someone's job to give them a wipe over now and then.  

I find them a bit difficult to read at night as well though, number plates as well, things all seem fuzzier in the dark.  I tend to use sat nav rather than road signs in unfamiliar areas at night myself.

 

[jace1969]

I don't go on motorway a lot if at all as i have no need as i don't travel a lot at all but they can be very scary places and even worse at night.

I have seen some right mad things on the t.v programs and when i have been on like going VERY fast and stuck right up there bumper or just thinking

an indicator is for show so change lanes with no indication and cutting people up,even undertaking,its endless the stuff so learners are going to be scared as hell.

If this is the case they will have to learn all the night driving and loads of traffic/problems so instructors will have to take them into all of these stuff,glad i have passed years ago.

 

 

[Tdci-Peter]

12 hours ago, jace1969 said:

like going VERY fast and stuck right up there bumper or just thinking

an indicator is for show so change lanes with no indication and cutting people up,even undertaking,its endless the stuff so learners are going to be scared as hell.

It can be a wild, dog eat dog world out there.