My Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost will be due for it's cam belt change next year. I'm quite aware that it's an expensive job, but what worries me is whether the dealerships or independent garages are up to doing the work correctly. Having the special tools etc. at their disposal doesn't unfortunately ensure good workmanship. Does anyone have any experience of having this work carried out successfully or otherwise? 

Was talking to one guy on Facebook and he paid out £1,500 for a belt change.... I nearly died!

7 hours ago, isb said:

My Fiesta 1.0 ecoboost will be due for it's cam belt change next year.

Assuming that it doesn't fail before then and destroy the engine.

10 years is the MAXIMUM age for the wet timing belts to be replaced. It's not a target that has to be waited for, you can change them sooner.

13 hours ago, unofix said:

10 years is the MAXIMUM age for the wet timing belts to be replaced.

That's a thought isn't it, why wait for the 10 years to come up! Our Fiesta is the 1.4 16 valve engine, it's a 10 plate and covered just 60,000 miles, I should get the belt renewed shouldn't i 

There's a guy on youtube who shows how to partially remove the timing belt cover so you can take a peek at the belt. 

1 hour ago, nicam49 said:

who shows how to partially remove the timing belt cover so you can take a peek at the belt. 

very interesting. The belt is actually inside of the engine, not just under a plastic cover, so not quite sure how you would be able to see it.

13 hours ago, unofix said:

The belt is actually inside of the engine, not just under a plastic cover, so not quite sure how you would be able to see it.

 

There are a few vids like this: 

showing inspection after removing the cam cover, also from below after sump removal. Not exactly a matter of quickly whipping off a cover though.

But it occurs to me that we may have had one of our frequent detours "off topic" and Nick is talking about the 1.4 in Ian's car?

does it not fall within a ford recall ?

5 hours ago, Jimpster said:

does it not fall within a ford recall ?

There is no recall in the UK.

If you are unlucky and have a 1.0 Ecoboost engine fail, then providing you can meet the dozen or so requirements that Ford insist on, then they will look at fixing or replacing the engine.

1 hour ago, unofix said:

There is no recall in the UK.

And - I understood Laurence to be talking about the cam belt change at 10 years which is a service action (albeit a very expensive one), not a failure as such?

No-one has responded to his actual point as yet, though we know that several members have had the job done satisfactorily at independents.

This one is in Sussex and from their website appear to know what they are talking about, though I don't know if anyone on here has used them?

https://www.cedargarage.co.uk/project/ford-ecoboost-timing-belt-replacement/

Thank you Roger.

19 hours ago, unofix said:

There is no recall in the UK.

If you are unlucky and have a 1.0 Ecoboost engine fail, then providing you can meet the dozen or so requirements that Ford insist on, then they will look at fixing or replacing the engine.

Do you know what the requirements are that ford insist on to consider fixing or replacement engine?

Don't know if we have a definitive list anywhere, but in general it seems down to meeting warranty and servicing requirements. Quite a few people have been turned down because of missed/late services, no proof of correct oil being used, etc.

Plenty of threads like this one which shows the experience people have had:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/133542-10-ecoboost-wet-belt-issue/#comments

 

I live in France so can’t recommend a garage.

My Focus Ecoboost 1 litre has 100,000 km and is 7 years old. My local village garage recommend a cambelt change. They see a lot of Citroen/Peugeot ‘Puretech’ engines over here  going bang after quite low mileage and they use the same wet belt design. 

To answer the question. I had a quote from a Ford main dealer for  €2,500😫

Had the belt changed by my local garage for €1,800. Including the hire of some special tools. Very pleased with the result, so any reputable garage should be able to do a good job. 

Just come back from a month in the French Alps and the car ran beautifully up in the  high passes with 4 passengers and a dog.

The Ecoboost 1 litre  is an amazing engine, pity about the cambelt though as it is an expensive job. 

 

Thank you for your answer John.

Lawrence, I would have it done now rather than wait a year. Even if you have to beg borrow or steal as it would be extremely bad luck if the engine suddenly went bang in an otherwise nice car! 

Duplication 

Having now recently spoken to my local Ford dealer about getting my cam belt changed, I asked if they also changed the oil pump belt and the answer was no, it wasn't in the kit supplied for the job (cam belt, tensioner and water pump), and that it was just visually inspected. This seems a bit bizarre, in view of all the belt related problems surely a better safe than sorry approach would be the best bet. If it's not done now then the next time it's due for a cam belt, the oil pump belt (in my case) will be 18 years old. I realise it's not as stressed as the cam belt, but it can't last for ever and I can't find any info about replacement intervals. I should add I will of course be having it changed, and I've noticed some independents also replace it as part of the job, so why not Ford?

2 hours ago, isb said:

I should add I will of course be having it changed

To replace the oil pump belt on the 1.0 ecoboost you pretty much have to follow the whole procedure for replacing the cambelt (and more). Personally I'd leave it fitted.

Hi Ray, I appreciate what you say but do you know why it's not considered important to change this belt? You're obviously a man of some experience, I'd be glad to hear your thoughts. By the way the cam belt hasn't been chaged yet, it would be done at the same time.

Definitely get the oil belt changed too. I'd be wanting the sump to come off anyway so as to inspect (and clean out if necessary) the oil pick up strainer and so if it is being done at the same time as the timing belt it is an extra five minutes and tenner for the belt well spent.

I would echo the suggestion to get it done sooner rather than later. Chances are it'll be the first and last time you get it done (depending on how long you keep the car, but if changing it after 9 years then doing it again at the 18 year point would mean having kept it way longer than average) and so you might as well do it sooner rather than later given the significant risks it mitigates. 

Chops Garage on You-tube hates Ecoboost engines but have a look at this 16 mins in:

 

https://youtu.be/fx0_ederdVk?si=T4wOwOYrPRPZfaOR

13 hours ago, isb said:

Hi Ray, I appreciate what you say but do you know why it's not considered important to change this belt? You're obviously a man of some experience, I'd be glad to hear your thoughts. By the way the cam belt hasn't been chaged yet, it would be done at the same time.

It is listed as a service item recommended at the same time as the cambelt on the Ford service sheets.  Just because it's not included with the cambelt kit doesn't mean it's not an important part.  Ford dealers telling you that are just lazy BS'ers...

It seems odd that there appears to be no official Ford recommendation to change the oil pump belt on the original 1.0 ecoboost, when there is on the revised (chain cam drive) version - 10 years/150k miles.

2 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

It seems odd that there appears to be no official Ford recommendation to change the oil pump belt on the original 1.0 ecoboost, when there is on the revised (chain cam drive) version - 10 years/150k miles.

I think it is recommended on at least some of the wetbelt engines, perhaps only the later ones though?  I've tried to open the Service Sheets a few times this morning for proof but their website is broken at the moment.