Hi,

Looking at upgrading from a 2014 mk3 1.6 tdci to a brand new mk4 1.5 Diesel Ecoblue 115ps Auto.

The 1.5 diesel is only available now in Ireland with an auto gearbox. Is this a good fit for this engine and is it a reliable auto?

I believe as this is a new 2025 model it is fitted with a dry timing belt and should already have the new 8mm cam timing chain fitted. If I'm understanding things right the 8mm chain should not fail and never require changing, is that correct?

If so what is the approx cost of a timing belt change for this model and is it restricted to Ford dealers, or is it like the mk3 1.6tdci in that any competent indy can replace?

What is the current intervals for timing belt changes on this engine?

Anything else to be aware of on the mk4 Focus.

Thanks for your help and insight.  

 

Hi,

Current intervals are showing as 10 years or 108,000 miles.  (175,000 kilometres)

The belt on these is very similar to the old 1.6 TDCI engines so should be easy enough for any competent garage to manage.  Current price around £500-£750 in the UK.  Though who knows what it'll be in 10 years time.

I'm not aware of any 8mm chains breaking so far.  But the tensioner and guides will still be a weak point, as with any chain drive.  I wouldn't expect that to last indefinitely.  Should pass 10 years easily.  But I'd be sceptical about whether it'll last 20 years...

Thanks Tom for the prompt and comprehensive reply.

Any views on the auto gearbox?

I have 320,000 Kms on the 2014 MK3 1.6 TDCI. The engine hasn't given any issues, touch wood. Gates timing belt kit and fan belt changed twice in that time at an indy. 

Always used parts and oil from Ford when servicing every 20000kms at my indy garage. 

Only issues over those miles has been the common faults, all recent...

Steering rack a few weeks ago. Went for a low mileage second hand one, as no reconditioned available in Ireland and a new one was extortionate. Hopefully it lasts a while!

Coolant cap broke recently too. Thermostat issue found at the same time. New bottle/cap and thermostat changed.

If the MK4 is as reliable over those miles as the MK3 I'd be very happy.

5 minutes ago, gooner99 said:

Any views on the auto gearbox?

I don't have any experience with them and we don't see all that many on here either so it's difficult to gauge reliability.

I believe they will still be using the 8F gearbox, which is an 8 speed conventional torque converter type, instead of the clutched DSG type that were being used on earlier models under the Powershift branding.

Good to hear your Mk3 has been so reliable over the years.  I'm not sure any modern car is as reliable now, there's so much more tech in them and production costs have had to be cut dramatically over the last few years as well.  It's well worth checking that a brand new one has all of the spec that you'd be expecting, as a lot was dropped over the last few years.

24 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I believe they will still be using the 8F gearbox, which is an 8 speed conventional torque converter type, instead of the clutched DSG type that were being used on earlier models under the Powershift branding.

Iirc the 7 speed DCT only appeared on the MHEV petrols from the facelift? The diesels seem to have stuck with the 8 speed throughout which I assume is the same torque converter box.

Interesting that the 1.5 diesel is still available in ROI but with 115 ps not 120 when it last appeared in the UK list, although I think there was a 95ps version in the lower specs here for a while when launched.

Going back a while now, but a few owners comments here on the Ecoblue and Mk 4 in general which may be of interest:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/109379-mk4-15-ecoblue-titanium-review/#comments

 

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

I don't have any experience with them and we don't see all that many on here either so it's difficult to gauge reliability.

I believe they will still be using the 8F gearbox, which is an 8 speed conventional torque converter type, instead of the clutched DSG type that were being used on earlier models under the Powershift branding.

Good to hear your Mk3 has been so reliable over the years.  I'm not sure any modern car is as reliable now, there's so much more tech in them and production costs have had to be cut dramatically over the last few years as well.  It's well worth checking that a brand new one has all of the spec that you'd be expecting, as a lot was dropped over the last few years.

Yeah. I guess that's true, a lot more things to go wrong in the latest generation of cars in general. I'm not convinced that the 1.0 or 1.5 petrol engines in the Focus would be a sound long term higher mileage choice either.

In light of this a voice in my head is saying go Corolla, as the 5th generation 1.8 hybrid (only 1.8 available in ROI) is said to be very reliable and economical by all accounts. Along with a better warranty it seems a safe if boring package. In saying that I've not driven this generation Corolla, so maybe it's a nicer car than the Auris. Am I mad to be considering a Corolla over a Focus?

2 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Iirc the 7 speed DCT only appeared on the MHEV petrols from the facelift? The diesels seem to have stuck with the 8 speed throughout which I assume is the same torque converter box.

Interesting that the 1.5 diesel is still available in ROI but with 115 ps not 120 when it last appeared in the UK list, although I think there was a 95ps version in the lower specs here for a while when launched.

Going back a while now, but a few owners comments here on the Ecoblue and Mk 4 in general which may be of interest:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/109379-mk4-15-ecoblue-titanium-review/#comments

 

Will check out that thread thanks. Yeah the 115ps is odd, as you'd expect the 95ps to be sold in Ireland due to higher taxes. Could be that it's the engine that's best suited to the auto box. Again odd that it's not sold with a manual gearbox.

20 minutes ago, gooner99 said:

In saying that I've not driven this generation Corolla, so maybe it's a nicer car than the Auris. Am I mad to be considering a Corolla over a Focus?

Not at all imo. I've only driven a 2.0, though I believe the latest 1.8 got a power boost at the last update. Certainly a better drive than the Auris I'm told, and I was favourably impressed with the drive and handling generally.  My local taxi drivers are big Toyota hybrid fans.

Assuming the ROI gets the same package as UK (up to 10 years if kept within the Toyota network for service) it's a very good warranty.

I'd certainly have a drive if you can get one, given that the Focus is now auto only anyway, and even the 1.8 Corolla is now 140ps I think. Nothing to lose by trying one.

A possible downside is that the Corolla is a bit more compact than the Focus 4, depends what you need. At least the 1.8 has the 12v battery under the bonnet, in the 2.0 it's in the boot so eats a bit of space. 

The tech (touchscreen, etc) seemed a bit more dated than the Focus (Though that wouldn't bother me, as I'm pretty dated myself!) I believe that also got an update along with the drivetrain though.

30 minutes ago, gooner99 said:

Again odd that it's not sold with a manual gearbox.

Pretty much par for the course nowadays, manuals are very hard to find across most manufacturers ranges. 

1 hour ago, gooner99 said:

Am I mad to be considering a Corolla over a Focus?

Not at all.  I wouldn't be buying another Mk4 Focus.

Thanks for the replies.

Yes Toyota do the 10 year relax warranty here in Ireland also. We also get the saloon/sedan which like the wagon has more rear leg room and a bigger boot than the hatch.

From doing some research it seems that there is less to go wrong with the engine/hybrid system and ecvt auto than most other modern turbo petrol and diesels. It also by all accounts gets good economy with decent enough power.

Yeah also seeing lots of taxi drivers opting for them, which would suggest they are capable of big miles relatively trouble free.

3 hours ago, gooner99 said:

Yeah also seeing lots of taxi drivers opting for them, which would suggest they are capable of big miles relatively trouble free.

350k + according to one driver I chatted with on the way home!

11 hours ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

350k + according to one driver I chatted with on the way home!

That's pretty impressive. And it's probably not been driven gently either.

The Toyota Owners Club forum is in a similar format to this one, and there seem to be some pretty knowledgeable/friendly people on there. Might be worth a look if you haven't already:

https://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/forum/50-corolla-corolla-cross-club/