Timing belt broke at 42k on 1.4 TDCI (56 plate) - is this normal?

[John McParland]

Hi folks,

so my 56 plate Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI studio needed its timing belt replaced after only 42,000 miles. It had broken and the garage diagnosed and fixed this.

However my understanding is that a timing belt on this car shouldn't have needed replacing until somewhere between 70 and 100 thousand miles. So I'm a little annoyed that I've had to fork out for this so early in its life and so soon after the manufacturer's warrenty has run out.

Has anyone else had a problem with the timing belt on this engine? Has anyone challenged Ford on this as, to me, it seems very wrong that the belt should go this early in the car's lifetime.

Regards,

John

[InstructorPiggy]

Honestly, I am surprised you don't need a new engine, if it is true that the belt has snapped!

A tdci with all that compression wacking against all the valves will be terminal :(

What happened? Just driving along and bang?!

Shouldnt break premature no, I believe they are 100,000 belts.

Although when I was in trade there was a terrible track record for Alfa engines snapping belts as early as 20k which is even before the first cambelt inspection. Since so many have gone and alfa is getting their ears and chequebooks wrecked, they have gone to Gates and changed design of the tensioner....from a plastic one to metal, as the plastic one used to deform.

Not sure on the diesels, as far as aware it is very rare, but there were a few 2.0hdis here and there a little early (they use them in the fords too aswell as citroen/peugeot)

Piggy :)